Natalie Cole Recovering from Kidney Transplant
May 20 2009, Published 8:44 a.m. ET
Singer Natalie Cole, 59, is recovering on Wednesday after undergoing a kidney transplant at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
``The kidney came from a deceased organ donor through the regional organ procurement agency, One Legacy,'' a rep for Cole said in a statement. While the Unforgettable singer has been touring in support of her latest CD, her physicians advised her to postpone her upcoming concert dates and spend the next three to four months recuperating.
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Cole, the daughter of iconic crooner Nat King Cole, was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2008—a disease she believes to be a byproduct of her past drug abuse. While Cole tried dialysis and even chemotherapy to battle the illness, her kidneys began to fail just months after she learned she had the disease.
Cole’s rep said she is “resting comfortably” following the procedure.
(Photo: WENN)