Amy Grant Says Her Health Scares ‘Made Everything More Precious’ (Exclusive)

Thu Nov 14 05:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Amy Grant Shares Her Journey After Facing Heart Surgery and Brain Injury

Singer Amy Grant has opened up about her experience facing two major health challenges in recent years: open heart surgery in 2020 and a brain injury from a bike accident in 2022.

The Grammy-winning artist, who is now 63, revealed that she discovered she had a rare heart defect called PAPVR during a routine checkup. The condition, which Grant describes as a “ticking time bomb,” required open heart surgery.

“I always saw myself living well into my nineties,” Grant shared, reflecting on the impact the health scares had on her perspective. “To realize something can happen that you never see coming… everything became more precious.”

Following her surgery, Grant committed to a healthier lifestyle, including regular swimming. However, her journey took another unexpected turn when she sustained a brain injury in a bike accident. While the injury left her with memory issues, Grant says her cognitive abilities have since recovered.

“I would just say, ‘What if I’m never all the way back?’ Because my processing was so slow,” she said. “But over time, my memory has improved, and now I feel fully in control of all my capacity.”

These experiences have profoundly impacted Grant’s outlook on life. She says she now prioritizes family time and has a renewed appreciation for her relationships. “This has made us all look at each other with a kind of appreciation,” she said.

Grant, who is currently collaborating with the American Heart Association on a heart health campaign, is urging women to prioritize their own health. “Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women,” she said. “I was one of those women who’s like, ‘I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m the Energizer Bunny,’ and then I just would’ve died. And I’m not ready to die.”

Despite the challenges, Grant remains positive and is looking forward to the future. She will be performing her annual series of Christmas concerts with her husband, Vince Gill, at the end of this month.