“Bachelor” franchise alum Joe Amabile is on the road to recovery and giving fans an update on his health after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor from his brain.
One of the biggest challenges Amabile continues to face is issues with his speech, admitting he can sometimes formulate exactly what he wants to say but has difficulty getting the words out.
“I still struggle a little bit,” he told GMA on Aug. 28. “I could think of what to say, but I would have a hard time vocalizing it. And I would say I’m about 90 percent back.”
What began as a precautionary health screening led to additional testing after physicians identified an abnormality, with a follow-up MRI confirming a “blueberry-sized” lesion in his left frontal lobe.
“I was diagnosed with a very low-grade [astrocytoma],” he wrote at the time. “So I will be undergoing treatment which included a daily pill that will put any remaining tumor cells to sleep, as well as regular MRIs.
“Recovery has been better than even I expected and I’m a pretty positive person,” he added. “A lot of you have reached out with so much love and support and it means a lot.”
In separate social media posts, Amabile said he will continue to document his experience in hopes of helping others facing similar diagnoses feel less alone.
Known by fans as “Grocery Store Joe,” Amabile first gained national attention during Becca Kufrin’s season of “The Bachelorette” in 2018. His popularity led to appearances on “Bachelor in Paradise,” where he met his wife, Serena Pitt, during Season 7.