Tionne Watkins speaks about her life and struggles with sickle cell anaemia
Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins turns 50 years old today, April 26, 2020. Here are snippets about one of America’s R&B music legends:
Her full name is Tionne Tenese Watkins
She was diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia at the age of 7????
Her ancestors are of Native American, African-American and Irish stock
At 14, she worked in hair salons, competed in hair shows and won
She has poor balance – the result of a brain tumor surgery she had in 2011. It started with severe, constant headaches.
For a long time, she was unable to find a doctor to remove the tumour from her head. The doctors felt that her sickle cell would adversely affect the outcome. In the end, a surgeon at Cedars Sinai Hospital, LA accepted to take up the risky procedure.
Tionne ‘TBoz’ Watkins launched her book, A SICK LIFE in 2017.
She is a spokesperson for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America and chairs other health pressure groups
She has a 20-year-old daughter and in 2016 adopted a male child nine months after he was born
She filed for divorce after four years of marriage to rapper Mack 10.
She loves Michael Jackson no end – Billie Jean is her favorite
She can perfectly mimic people and their voices.
Tionne ‘TBoz’ Watkins recorded the theme song to All That (Nickelodeon)
Scooby Doo is her favourite cartoon
In 2005, T-Boz opened a children’s boutique called Chase’s Closet
Doctors said she wouldn’t live to 30 years
She likes to sleep with the lights on: ‘I’m scared of the dark.’
She loves horror movies
She does not have pictures of people in her home – she believes their eyes are following her!
She believes in the existence of ghosts
Proceeds from her 2013 release, Champion, were used to benefit children with sickle cell anaemia and leukemia
She published a book of poems, Thoughts, in 1999
She has also acted in films
The SCD advocate filed for bankruptcy twice in 2011
