Gerry Turner, 72, is opening up about his divorce from Theresa Nist, 71, and a life-changing cancer diagnosis. Turner, who appeared on the Golden Bachelor dating show in 2023, revealed that he was diagnosed with slow-growing “bone marrow cancer” called Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia.
The couple got engaged during the finale of the show and tied the knot just three months later. However, they announced their decision to divorce in April 2024, citing distance as a major problem. Turner says that his diagnosis with cancer had a significant impact on their relationship and led him to re-evaluate his priorities.
Turner was diagnosed after suffering from shoulder pain for three years. He initially didn’t seek medical attention due to his busy schedule but eventually received the diagnosis in March 2024. The news shocked him, and he says it felt like “10 tons of concrete” were dropped on him.
Despite being told there’s no cure for cancer, Turner has adopted a new philosophy: “Live Like You Were Dying.” He plans to pack as much fun into his life as possible and enjoy every moment. Turner wishes Nist “all the good luck in the world” and says he has no regrets about how things turned out.
The retired restaurateur believes that people may have misjudged their separation, saying it wasn’t a rash decision. He hopes that fans will look back on his situation with new understanding, realizing that his diagnosis had a significant impact on his decisions.
Source: https://people.com/golden-bachelor-gerry-turner-diagnosed-cancer-weeks-before-theresa-nist-split-exclusive-8758677