Real Housewives Star Vicki Gunvalson Shares Her Daughter's Ongoing Battle with Lupus

Known for her role in Real Housewives of Orange County (RHOC), Vicki Gunvalson was clearly captured having a close relationship with with her daughter, Briana.  Briana was hospitalized multiple times because of complications brought on by lupus. 

Briana's husband shared a photo of Briana in the hospital, asking supporters to keep her in their thoughts and prayers. He reported that the condition was caused by inflammation around her heart. Doctors found that her pulse was fluctuating and that she needed a cardiac ablation. 

This operation was the latest in a series of surgeries that the 31-year-old has undergone to ease the symptoms of her condition. So far, lupus has given Briana and her family a never-ending list of challenges, ever since the day she was diagnosed. 

Vicki has updated fans on several occasions to Andy Cohen, on Watch What Happens Live (WWHL). The Bravo community is very tight and Briana's struggles have been shown on the reality show. Fans are glued to everything written about each cast member and concern for Briana is at an all time high. She is loved by the entire cast, past and present. 

Briana: Daughter, wife, mother

Briana has been a mainstay on the reality TV show for its entire run, and she has always been popular among viewers. Briana is not active on social media, however, her husband and mother constantly update her fans on her condition through their accounts.

Her mother describes her daughter as strong and opinionated. Briana was once very active as well, participating in a number of different cheering competitions in school. She grew up in Southern California with her mother, brother, and then-stepfather Donn Gunvalson.

Briana took up nursing once she had gotten older, and actually became an ER nurse. She later marred her then-boyfriend Ryan Culberson in Las Vegas, late 2011. In an episode of RHOC, after informing her mother that she had gotten married, the couple decided to have a much more "formal" ceremony in in Sta. Barbara in 2012. Now, the Culbersons have two sons, Troy and Owen. 

During the 5^th season of RHOC, Briana informed her mother of the grape-like tumors found on her thyroid and neck areas. She had to undergo surgery the following year in 2011. Luckily, the results showed that her tumor was benign. In 2015, she decided to go under the knife again to remove her enlarged lymph nodes, which was reported by Vicki (via Twitter) as a success.

Briana’s health has always been well-documented on the show. Viewers have even watched her health issues before a formal diagnosis of lupus was made. 

Photo source: Vicki Gunvalson and Briana Culberson via Instagram