Rebel Shares Health Update: Pulmonary Lymphoma and Neurological Battle – Tanea Brooks, known to wrestling fans as Rebel from her time in TNA/Impact Wrestling and AEW, has revealed a difficult health journey in a heartfelt Instagram video.
From Misdiagnosis to Cancer Diagnosis
Brooks explained that her health struggles began in May 2024, when she was hospitalized for what doctors initially believed was cryptococcal pneumonia, described as fungal masses on her lungs. After a year of antifungal treatment with no improvement—and enduring infections, ruptures, and tumors—she sought further evaluation at the Mayo Clinic. There, she received the correct diagnosis: primary pulmonary lymphoma, a rare form of cancer in the lungs. “If there is a best-case scenario, then I have it,” Brooks said.
Battling Functional Neurological Disorder
In addition to cancer, Brooks revealed she is also coping with functional neurological disorder (FND), which has severely impacted her mobility and speech. She now requires a walker, struggles with slurred speech, and has lost partial use of her dominant right hand. “It’s hard for me to use my right… I kind of have like a claw hand,” she explained.
Brooks is beginning an aggressive rehabilitation program for FND while also fighting a serious infection with IV antibiotics. Once cleared, she will undergo further testing—including a third bronchoscopy—to determine whether chemotherapy or radiation will be her treatment plan. She hopes to begin cancer treatment in early 2026.
Best known to AEW fans as Dr. Britt Baker’s assistant and to Impact audiences as part of The Menagerie and The Dollhouse, Brooks’ resilience and determination shine through as she vows to “kick its ass” in her fight against cancer.
Her update has drawn support from fans and peers across the wrestling community.
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Rebel Shares Health Update: Pulmonary Lymphoma and Neurological Battle
