Gerry Turner, the star of the new season of ABC’s “The Bachelor,” publicly announced his diagnosis with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia just weeks ago. He was diagnosed in December 2024. This is an uncommon form of blood cancer. This terrible condition has an overabundance of dysfunctional white blood cells in the bone marrow. It impacts only about three out of a million people per year in the United States, with men more frequently affected than women.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) provides a wealth of information on Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia. This condition is considered a deadly medical crisis. Turner must receive routine blood tests every three months as a result of his condition. When Turner turned 75, his doctor made the additional requirement of this.
Alongside taking care of his health, Turner has received strength from a blossoming love life. He recounted how his girlfriend has been instrumental to him in managing his diagnosis. The reactance goes away and the person I’m dating will suggest, ‘Do you want to go do…’ and before she can get her whole question out, I’ll be like yes. So I’m in on everything,” he remarked. This openness, not just the accumulation of places, has deepened his life and made it a much more exhilarating one. “It makes life exciting because you’re kind of in the back of your head feel like you’ve got a lot of living to do and you don’t know how long you have to do it, so don’t turn down anything,” he added.
That continued challenge of overcoming life-altering health events has led Turner to take stock and consider where he’s been and where he hopes to go. He mentioned, “I’m trying to respectfully get to a point where there’s an acceptable time from my divorce.” This level of awareness speaks to his commitment to doing the hard work of relating with intentionality and care.
Turner shared the story of how he first met his girlfriend, and how that was an all-consuming moment. It was the very first time I had seen her, it was that look that she shot me. All at once I was totally overwhelmed by that gaze,” he remembered. It was the sense of touch, or gave me an immediate physical sensation. He tried to ignore all these feelings at first, thinking they were dumb, he was constantly pulled towards her side. With each new experience, that sensation has immediately returned with her gaze. It’s like, damn. This is pretty awesome,” he said.
Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia poses a difficult diagnostic puzzle for Turner. His resilience and amazing support system give him the strength to focus on keeping hope alive. The NIH is watching as these unique histories unfold and with each new person who begins to walk down the same road.
