Abby Lee Miller Shares Photo Of Herself Lying Scared In Hospital Bed

Abby Lee Miller posted a photo of herself looking haggard and scared in a hospital bed just days after announcing she has worsening non-Hodgkin's lymphoma — a type of cancer.

The former Dance Moms star and jailbird, who had emergency surgery in the hospital this week, was makeup-free, showing a worried-looking, wrinkled forehead and wide eyes as she held one hand up to her mouth while her head was on a pillow. A medical tube appeared to be taped to her hand, and she wore a blue-checked hospital gown.

Next to the Instagram shot, Miller wrote, "So much gratitude and love for those who listened, those who looked deeper and those who leapt into action. So much more I wish I could say......about how quickly your life can change at the hands of others."

Miller, who was transferred from prison to a halfway house on March 27, had been incarcerated for hiding income from the IRS.

This Tuesday, she went into surgery for a multi-level laminectomy at about 1 a.m. after she experienced "excruciating neck pain" and weakness in her arm.

The almost five-hour surgery required an 18-inch incision on Miller's back as her doctor had to remove the back part of several vertebrae to back to relieve pressure her spinal cord.

Dr. Hooman Melamed told PEOPLE, "If we didn't do something, she was going to die."

A source told RadarOnline.com that Miller was "devastated" and despondent after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"She's strong, but not good. It's bad and very aggressive," said a source close to the notorious reality TV teacher. She is devastated because she has just been released, and now this. She feels cursed."