From substance abuse problems to legal troubles, former adult film star Jenna Jameson has dealt
with various hardships.
But she may now be facing one of her biggest challenges — and it's related to her health.
Keep watching to learn all about it.
Born in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1974, Jenna Jameson's real name is Jenna Marie Massoli.
She was trained as a ballerina from a very young age and was successful in the child
beauty pageant circuit.
Tragedy came to Jameson early in her life, however.
When she was almost 2 years old, her mother died from skin cancer.
Burdened with medical bills, the Massoli family downsized their living arrangements, and her
father, a local sheriff, was largely absent, working long hours to support his family.
"From the time I was this high, I raised myself."
Jameson eventually moved in with her boyfriend at a very young age.
It was during this tumultuous time that she began experimenting with drugs and alcohol.
Jameson would go on to struggle with addiction issues for years, but another anecdote from
her early life reflects her tenacity and survival instincts.
When she was turned down for a job dancing in Las Vegas because of her braces, she pulled
them off with pliers and reapplied, using a fake ID.
This time, she was hired.
It was also during this period that she opted to change her name from Massoli to Jameson
after the whiskey brand.
Jenna Jameson's early struggles were far bigger than substance abuse issues and a chaotic
home life.
For instance, while working as a Las Vegas dancer, Jameson stopped eating, possibly because
of a crystal meth addiction.
According to The Age, Jameson lost so much weight that a concerned friend had to intervene.
The friend persuaded Jenna to live with her father, so that Jenna could get the help she
needed.
Jameson was so unwell at this point that she was brought to the airport in a wheelchair.
When her dad picked her up from the airport, he could not even recognize her.
Jameson's young life was also punctuated with several instances of sexual assault, including
two instances that occured while she was still in high school.
In the first case, several boys allegedly beat Jenna while assaulting her.
The second assault was allegedly carried out by the uncle of Jenna's then-boyfriend.
Her boyfriend's uncle has since denied those accusations.
Sadly, Jenna Jameson's experience with skin cancer was not limited to the untimely death
of her mother.
In 2004, Jameson was also diagnosed with this form of cancer.
A dermatologist noticed an irregularly shaped mole on Jameson's back during an appointment
for a different issue, which ended up being malignant.
Before going in for surgery, Jameson had a blood test that, in a strange twist, revealed
that she was two months pregnant.
At the time, she was married to her second husband, adult film producer and director
— and sometimes performer — Jay Grdina.
After receiving her cancer diagnosis, Jenna miscarried.
Grdina and Jameson separated in 2006, and shortly thereafter, the actor reportedly began
dating Jane's Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Dave Navarro.
Linked with several men in romantic relationships throughout her life, Jameson has been married
twice and, as of 2022, is engaged to Lior Bitton with whom she has a 4-year-old daughter.
As of 2022, Jenna Jameson is cancer free.
As is often the case with many who are successful in the entertainment business, legal troubles
have followed Jenna Jameson throughout her life and career.
For instance, in 2005, a legal dispute with her book publisher stalled plans for a reality
show on the A&E Network.
Additionally, domestic violence issues have also followed Jameson into her adult life.
One instance occurred in 2010 when her former boyfriend, MMA fighter Tito Ortiz, was arrested
following an alleged altercation between the couple.
Another legal issue for the star occurred in 2012, when Jameson was arrested following
a car accident in California.
She later pleaded guilty to a DUI with a blood alcohol level that was over the state legal
limit.
In the aftermath, Jameson was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay fines.
As part of her deal with the court, Jameson was also asked to collaborate with Mothers
Against Drunk Driving.
"I want people to understand that I'm not perfect."
In early 2022, Jameson began suffering from muscle weakness and paralysis in her legs.
According to Jameson's partner, Lior Bitton, Jameson had been vomiting "for two weeks"
and reportedly sought treatment at a hospital — but the hospital sent her home.
When the couple returned home, however, things got worse.
The muscles in Jameson's legs became so weak that she could no longer stand or walk properly.
As a result, the couple returned to the hospital for additional testing.
This time, doctors were able to make a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Guillain-Barré syndrome occurs when a body's own immune system attacks nerves in the body,
causing the same type of muscle weakness and paralysis that Jameson was experiencing.
The exact cause of the syndrome is unknown, although issues can arise following respiratory
or digestive tract infections.
Extremely rare occurrences of Guillain-Barré syndrome have been reportedly linked to the
Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, as the FDA reports, but Jenna Jameson confirmed on her social
media that she has not received any kind of vaccination.
According to the CDC, most recover from Guillain-Barré syndrome, although it is sometimes fatal.
Other sufferers of Guillain-Barré syndrome live with permanent nerve pain.
To combat the syndrome, Jameson is being treated with a high dose of immunoglobulin.
While giving an update on Jameson's health, Lior Bitton said this in his Instagram story:
"She's doing physical therapy to try and stand on her legs, but at the moment she cannot
stand on her legs.
They're starting the treatment, so they'll see how it goes.
So keep praying."
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National
Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233.
You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.