The world is left to grieve the loss of such a great talent and kind person with the departure of musical star and actress Olivia Newton-John.
It is understandable that her loss has crushed her close friends and family. Totti Goldsmith, Olivia’s niece, has now discussed the specifics of the performer’s final moments and shared how the Grease actress spent her final days.
Unfortunately, it’s a really painful read.
For decades, Olivia Newton-John was the queen of our television screens, making successive generations laugh. The stunning grin and endearing demeanor of the singer and actress made her a treat to behold at all times.
She was catapulted to new levels of stardom after her performance in ‘Grease,’ which she had never experienced before. With over 100 million records sold, she is currently one of the best-selling recording artists of all time.
But she also had to deal with a dreadful illness for a sizable portion of her life. The famous Grease actress battled breast cancer for many years while trying to maintain her life.
According to accounts, she received her initial cancer diagnosis in 1992. Doctors broke the terrible news to her shortly after she published her third greatest hits album, Back to Basics: The Essential Collection 1971–1992.
Olivia was forced to put everything on hold after being given her initial breast cancer diagnosis; she postponed the promotion for the aforementioned record and her scheduled tour.
Olivia received even another tragedy in addition to her first cancer diagnosis, as if that weren’t enough. Her father passed on that same weekend, which was a tragically unfortunate turn of circumstances.
Olivia Newton-John had regular checkups, which allowed for the early detection of her cancer. Within 24 hours of the diagnosis, her right breast underwent a partial mastectomy.
Olivia was ‘too distressed to say anything’ when she arrived at the hospital before her operation, despite the fact that doctors had assured her that the prognosis was favorable.
The singer-actress stated, ‘I just want to get well.’
Newton-John, then 43, had the option of remaining silent and not discussing her diagnosis, but she wanted to prevent graphic tabloid headlines.
In the end, her decision to disclose her breast cancer helped spread awareness and may have prevented thousands of deaths.
Olivia recovered after undergoing nine months of chemotherapy, acupuncture, breast reconstruction, and homeopathic treatments. She then acted as a breast cancer research champion.
The Grease actress, who had always insisted on eating well and adhering to a strict fitness regimen, made the decision to spend millions on a ‘greenhouse’ to aid in her fight against cancer.
In California’s Malibu, the estate was constructed with expansive ocean views. Olivia insisted on using only non-toxic materials throughout the house and did not allow any discarded or recycled wood.
‘After learning I had cancer, I couldn’t stop thinking, ‘Why?’ All I could imagine was that the environment we were living in might have contributed to the disease, Olivia said to the Sunday Mirror in 1993.
I kept wondering whether it might have something to do with the water and air we were breathing in Los Angeles. There are too many people in Los Angeles, and I felt confined.
Fighting cancer assisted Olivia in overcoming her fears and reevaluating her priorities. Fans and friends from all over the world donated hundreds of flowers and get-well cards after the well-known female singer received a cancer diagnosis.
In a 1994 interview with the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Olivia emphasized that receiving all the support from friends, family, and fans was a crucial step in the recovery process.
It might be quite difficult for women to concentrate on themselves, she remarked. We constantly put our family and everyone else before ourselves. We are usually last. Mother always chooses the smallest potato, you know.
Olivia Newton-John never wanted her spirit to be broken by the diagnosis.
The British-Australian actress told Us Weekly in 2019 that ‘if you think happy things, you’ll build a positive world around yourself and attract positive individuals to you.’
However, Chloe Lattanzi, Olivia’s daughter, once told 9News that the family had experienced a great deal of stress as a result of her mother’s cancer treatment.
‘Night sweats would cause me to wake up. When asked about her mother’s illness in her first televised appearance, she said, ‘I kind of pushed it; I didn’t deal with it.
Olivia, 68, was devastated to find that her cancer had spread to her bones in 2017. Doctors informed the Grease actress that her back pain was being caused by breast cancer that had spread to her sacrum, a bone in the lower back, and that she would need to postpone numerous concerts as a result.
Olivia underwent radiation therapy and other wellness treatments while feeling a “absolute knowingness” that she could turn things around once more.
John Easterling, her husband, reported that Olivia’s pain had ‘gone from an 8 to roughly a 2’ after two weeks. The singer maintained her optimistic attitude and persisted in advocating research despite her fight with the illness.
She stated, ‘I am feeling excellent and have a team of wellness and medical professionals here in the U.S. and at my Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia, who are all totally supporting me.
The actress shared her health struggle honestly at this trying time in her life and rose to prominence as a source of inspiration.
She added that since she experienced a recurrence of breast cancer in 2013, this was actually her third battle with the disease.
‘A lot of people perceive it as a struggle, and it is entirely up to you how you interpret it. Whatever you want to name it, I consider it to be a part of me. Maybe I see it as a component of my mission,” she remarked.
Her health suffered greatly the third time since she was older and the cancer had returned. This means she stayed largely hidden from the public and only made a few public appearances.
The Olivia Newton-John Foundation for cancer research has benefited from Olivia’s increased fundraising efforts since she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2019.
She allegedly sold off a significant portion of her real estate to pay for additional research. The celebrity reportedly made the decision to sell her $6.6 million, 189-acre California farm.
Olivia also gave her devoted husband John Easterling complete ownership of her Santa Barbara home in October 2021.
Olivia liked assisting others. She gave back for the final 20 years of her life, a close friend of Olivia’s told The New York Post.
She wished to leave something behind that would last and be useful to her daughter as well.
final hours of life
The icon’s condition deteriorated throughout the course of the final five days of her life, according to Olivia Newton-niece John’s Totti Goldsmith.
Melbourne-based Totti told A Current Affair, ‘It’s not a surprise, we’ve known how sick she’s been, especially the last five days.
Totti said her last goodbyes over the phone because she was unable to make it to her aunt’s house in Southern California in time. They were connected on Facetime by Olivia’s husband so they could have one final encounter.
Totti, whose mother was Olivia’s sibling, additionally disclosed that the Grease actress endured excruciating suffering in her final days.
‘It wasn’t just the cancer that killed her; she also had other illnesses from being in the hospital and having a weak immune system. Secondary infections occurred, she claimed.
Totti also related an incident from a few years ago, when she went to see her aunt at the Melbourne facility of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute. Olivia, who was receiving treatment there, appeared ill.
Totti, whose mother was Olivia’s sister, also revealed that the Grease actress went through tremendous pain in her last moments.
‘Her death was caused by more than just the cancer; she also contracted additional diseases as a result of being hospitalized and having a weakened immune system. She asserted that secondary infections ensued.’
Totti also described an experience from a few years back when she visited her aunt at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute’s Melbourne location. Olivia, who was there receiving care, seemed unwell.
last request
Olivia passed away on August 8, 2022, at the age of 73. Her Instagram account claims that she died quietly at home in Southern California, surrounded by loved ones.
In place of flowers, the actress asked that contributions be sent to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund.