The Mighty Logo

'Big Brother' Contestant Raven Walton Is Showing Viewers the Reality of Gastroparesis

The most helpful emails in health
Browse our free newsletters

Raven Walton, a 23-year-old with gastroparesis, is competing on “Big Brother” this summer.

Read the full version of  ‘Big Brother’ Contestant Raven Walton Is Showing Viewers the Reality of Gastroparesis.

Read the full transcript:

This ‘Big Brother’ Contestant Is Showing Viewers the Reality of Her Chronic Illness

23-year-old dance teacher Raven Walton is fighting for more than the $500,000 prize on CBS’ “Big Brother.”

She’s raising awareness for gastroparesis and the gastric pacemaker she uses to treat her condition.

Walton was diagnosed at 16 and said it’s possible to see her pacemaker in her stomach.

“Pacer power, ya’ll!” Walton said. “It gave me a second chance at life. And it’s my second heart.”

She’s asking “Big Brother” viewers to use the hashtag #PacerPower when discussing her.

“I know one day eventually I won’t be able to do all these things. So that’s why I’m doing it now.”

Walton’s illness will also influence how she spends the money if she wins.

She told The Hollywood Reporter she isn’t able to have children so the first thing she’d do is freeze her eggs.

“[The show] is bigger than me. It’s my future. I’ve been through a lot with my disease and it’s taken a lot away from me growing up.”

“This is my chance to take some of that back.”

“Big Brother” airs Sundays and Wednesdays at 8/7c and Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.

Originally published: July 11, 2017
Want more of The Mighty?
You can find even more stories on our Home page. There, you’ll also find thoughts and questions by our community.
Take Me Home