10 Years After Almost Dying During A Plastic Surgery Procedure, Tameka Foster Knows Her Worth

Stylist Tameka Foster hasn’t always had the best relationship with fame and she’s had her share of hardships and tragedies, but today she speaks on her past from a place of peace and acceptance.

The mother of three, who was married to singer Usher from 2007 to 2009, posted a #TBT photo from 10 years ago when her life was in a much darker place. Thankfully, she looks back on this moment with gratitude.

“Feeling grateful today. 10 years ago today I suffered a cardiac arrest in Brazil. #Flatlined #IDied,” she writes in the reflective caption. “I was married, publicly shamed and didn’t ever feel like I was enough, pretty enough, exotic enough, slim enough, light enough, worthy enough. Funny part… Today I’m 20 pounds heavier, feel much prettier, single AF, happier, and so amazingly worthy.”

In 2009, two months after giving birth to her son Naviyd (her second with Usher), Foster flew to Brazil to have liposuction done on her stomach. Moments after going under general anesthesia, she went into cardiac arrest.  According to surgeons, Foster was immediately revived and placed in an induced coma. She never had the liposuction. Luckily, after spending one day in ICU, Foster was transferred to a larger facility, Sao Paulo’s Hospital Sîrio-Libanés, before being cleared to go home. Foster has since spoken candidly about the ordeal, telling VLAD TV that the surgery was a spontaneous and a “dumb decision” in hindsight.

Though Tameka and Usher’s longstanding fallout from their divorce and custody battle is finally settled, the divorcées seem to be on friendly terms. They were last seen posing for a picture together with music executive Jon Platt at the City of Hope Gala last October.