Tina Arena gave first-hand testimony about the medical issues that led to the cancellation of 12 shows.
This is the first time the singer has spoken publicly about the incident in which he was forced to fight for his life.
“It wasn’t a great feeling,” Arena told ABC News.
”But anyway, I’m the kind of person who just keeps going, right? I’ll try my best.”
The ARIA Hall of Fame inductee and member of the Order of Australia was booked to perform in the United States, Europe and Australia in October 2023.
But everything stopped when she developed kidney stones and contracted sepsis, a life-threatening bloodstream infection.
“I wake up in the ICU, and I have a team of doctors around me,” she said.
”I said, “Guys, I’m leaving in 10 days.” How do you track it? ‘And they all laugh at me…’They say, ‘I’m not going anywhere.’”
Alina says she may not be able to share her love of music now that she has had a blood transfusion.
So, in honor of blood donors, Arena teamed up with singer-songwriter Ngaile, who has her own story of recovery from the disease.
They called the track “Unlikely Version” and collaborated with artists and band members whose lives were saved by blood, plasma, stem cell and platelet donations.
Tina Arena records Unlikely Version at Melbourne’s Festival Hall. (Provided by: Drew Wheeler)
“People are familiar with Sia’s version,” Arena said.
“So what I want to emphasize with this song is that for me I wanted to get rid of that right away, darling.
“I wanted to get to the essence of things.” [the song] I wasn’t interested in reinterpreting something magical like Thea’s version.
”I thought, “Okay, this is a beautiful piece.” What can you bring to it?”
Arena, who will be back on the road with a tour of France in October and touring Australia and Asia next year, says giving blood requires some consistency.
“When it comes to blood, we all have the same color.”
Alina said.
“And we all may need it at some point in our lives.”
Blood’s “wonderful gift”
Naile was diagnosed with a rare cancer called ganglioneuroblastoma when she was around 3 years old, and was hospitalized for years.
She had to undergo radiation therapy, chemotherapy, two major surgeries, and blood transfusions.
“I was very sick as a child,” Ngaile told ABC News.
“I was literally bedridden because I didn’t go to school anymore. [with] Pipes are moving in and out of the body. ”
Ngaile says only one in 30 people donate blood. (Provided by: Drew Wheeler)
Ngaile is in remission, but the pain flares up from time to time, such as when she was pregnant with her first child, who turns 8 this month.
“Donating blood saves lives, but we don’t really think about what it means afterwards,” Ngaile said.
”No one would have ever imagined that I would still be able to have children, have this career, and build the life I have now. [with] Donor generosity.”
Mr Ngaire said Australian Red Cross Lifeblood required 1.7 million blood, plasma and platelet donations each year to meet Australia’s needs.
”[It] It’s outrageous that only 1 in 30 Australians donate money. [blood]” said Ngaile.
“But also, one in three Australians will require some sort of blood transfusion, whether it’s plasma, platelets or blood.”
She encourages people to think about the impact of donating blood.
“It’s about giving people who you may never meet again in your life an opportunity to do something that they take for granted.”
Naile said.
“Whether it’s getting on the bus every day to go to work, doing the job you’ve worked so hard for, or… like me, starting a family and building a career.
”Honestly, it’s just the most amazing gift.”