Logan Reid
In 2018, Alexx Banks, a reality TV star on OWN's Ready to Love, was hospitalized with a rare case of brain flu. Banks' co-star, Tiffany Kirk, shared a photo of him hooked up to machines in the hospital and asked fans to pray for him and donate to a GoFundMe page to help with medical costs. Banks' condition was life-threatening, and he was put on life support. Banks' family shared their extreme worry about his condition, which was caused by a flu virus that entered his brain tissue and caused inflammation. In an update in November 2019, it was reported that Banks was out of the hospital and recovering from the disease.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Alexx Banks/Blanks |
| Occupation | Reality TV star |
| TV Show | Ready to Love |
| Diagnosis | Brain flu, Influenza B, dehydration, kidney damage |
| Hospitalization Status | Out of the hospital |
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What You'll Learn
- Alexx Banks was hospitalized for brain flu in 2018
- Banks' co-star, Tiffany Kirk, shared a photo of him in hospital and asked for donations
- Banks was sent home three times before being admitted to ICU
- Brain flu is a rare condition with fewer than 50 cases in the US
- Banks is now out of the hospital and recovering
Alexx Banks was hospitalized for brain flu in 2018
Alexx Banks, one of the eligible bachelors on OWN's reality dating series, Ready To Love, was hospitalized for brain flu in 2018. The 34-year-old truck driver had contracted the flu and was initially sent home from the hospital multiple times before his condition worsened.
Banks' illness began with flu-like symptoms, including a high fever, and he took to Instagram to share his experience, writing, "Flu ain't no joke. Pray for a brother. Been out of commission since Friday... fever on 100 plus #flu #sick #down #headache #feelingbetter #riseup #thanksgiving was finna be real rough."
However, his condition quickly deteriorated, and he was eventually placed in the ICU, where he was diagnosed with Influenza B, which had led to dehydration and kidney damage. Despite receiving IV fluids and treatment, Banks' health continued to decline, and the virus attacked his brain, resulting in him being diagnosed with brain flu.
The severity of Banks' condition prompted his Ready To Love co-star, Tiffany Kirk, to share a post on social media, along with a photo of him hooked up to machines in the hospital. She wrote, "Please pray for Alexx Banks, Ready to Love, and provide a donation if you can go gofundme. He has been fighting a brain flu and needs all the support he can get it #readytolove #chocolaticity."
A GoFundMe page was set up to help offset Banks' medical costs, and his mother, Veronica Johnson, also appealed for funds to support his medical and personal care once he was out of the hospital.
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Banks' co-star, Tiffany Kirk, shared a photo of him in hospital and asked for donations
In 2018, Alexx Banks, a reality TV star on OWN's Ready to Love, was hospitalised with a life-threatening case of brain flu. Brain flu is an extremely rare condition, with fewer than 50 people in the United States having had it. It is caused when a flu virus enters the brain tissue and causes inflammation of the brain.
Banks's co-star, Tiffany Kirk, shared a photo of him in the hospital and asked for donations. She posted the photo on social media, along with a message asking for prayers and donations for Banks's medical costs. "Please pray for Alexx Banks, Ready to Love, and provide a donation if you can go gofundme," she wrote. "He has been fighting a brain flu and needs all the support he can get it #readytolove #chocolaticity." Kirk's post included a photo of Banks hooked up to various machines in a hospital bed.
Kirk also added some details about Banks's condition and encouraged people to be their own advocates when it comes to their health. She wrote, "He was sent home 3 times and they knew he wasn’t getting better. And if you don’t have health insurance, get it. So many people are turned away because of this so it is extremely important that you are covered."
Banks's mother, Veronica Johnson, also set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for her son's medical and personal care. On the page, she shared details of her son's illness and how he had been sent home from the hospital multiple times before finally being admitted and put on life support.
It is not clear how long Banks remained in the hospital, but he did eventually recover and was interviewed by Channel 2's Audrey Washington after his release. In the interview, he said he was working to get his life back and that he had been through a traumatic experience.
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Banks was sent home three times before being admitted to ICU
In November 2018, Alexx Banks, a reality TV star on OWN's Ready to Love, was hospitalised with a rare case of brain flu. Brain flu is an extremely rare condition, with fewer than 50 people in the United States having had it, and occurs when a flu virus enters the brain tissue and causes inflammation of the brain. Banks was initially sent home from the hospital three times before finally being admitted to the ICU.
Banks first started experiencing flu-like symptoms in early November, including a fever, a bad cough, and weakness. He visited the hospital but was sent home and told to rest. However, his condition did not improve, and he was taken to a second hospital, where he was diagnosed with Influenza B, dehydration, and kidney damage. Despite receiving IV fluids and being sent home again, Banks's health continued to deteriorate, and he was taken to the hospital three more times before finally being admitted to the ICU.
Banks's persistence in seeking medical attention and the support of his family were critical factors in his eventual diagnosis and treatment. His sister, Shaunteh, expressed shock and concern upon learning about brain flu: "We didn’t know what the brain flu was... We’re, like, 'What's going on?' and, basically, it's fluid on the brain."
The reality TV star's illness and recovery gained significant attention, with his co-star Tiffany Kirk sharing a photo of him hooked up to machines in the hospital and encouraging fans to donate to a GoFundMe page to support his medical costs. Banks's mother, Veronica Johnson, also set up a fundraiser to help cover his medical and personal care expenses.
The story of Alexx Banks highlights the importance of being persistent and proactive when it comes to one's health. Despite initial misdiagnoses and being sent home multiple times, Banks and his family continued to seek medical attention, ultimately leading to the correct diagnosis and life-saving treatment.
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Brain flu is a rare condition with fewer than 50 cases in the US
In 2018, reality TV star Alexx Banks was hospitalized with a life-threatening case of brain flu. Brain flu is a rare condition, with no mention of its incidence rate in the US. However, it is known that encephalitis, a form of brain inflammation, affects fewer than 50 people in the US each year.
Brain flu is a serious condition that can lead to life-threatening complications. In the case of Alexx Banks, he was initially misdiagnosed and sent home from the hospital multiple times before finally being admitted to the ICU and placed on life support. This highlights the importance of being an advocate for one's health, as his co-star Tiffany Kirk emphasized in her social media post.
While the specific type of brain flu that Alexx Banks suffered from is unclear, it is known that influenza can have severe neurological complications. These complications include encephalopathy and encephalitis, which are characterized by brain dysfunction and inflammation, respectively. In rare cases, encephalitis can lead to acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE), which is the most severe form of influenza-associated encephalopathy and can result in varying degrees of brain damage.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 2024-2025 flu season saw a significant increase in flu-related deaths, with 1,214 confirmed cases. Of the 68 children who died, 9 (or 13%) had flu-associated brain complications. This data highlights the severity of the flu season and the potential risk of brain-related complications, particularly in children.
While the incidence rate of brain flu in the US is unknown, the cases of Alexx Banks and the children affected by the 2024-2025 flu season emphasize the seriousness of this condition and the need for early diagnosis and treatment. Brain flu can have life-threatening consequences, and public awareness and advocacy for one's health, as Tiffany Kirk stressed, are crucial to ensuring timely and appropriate care.
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Banks is now out of the hospital and recovering
In November 2018, Alexx Banks, a reality TV star on OWN's Ready to Love, was hospitalised with a rare case of brain flu. Brain flu is an extremely rare condition, with fewer than 50 people in the United States having had it. It is caused when a flu virus enters the brain tissue and causes inflammation of the brain.
Banks was initially misdiagnosed and sent home from the hospital several times before his condition worsened and he was put on life support. His family shared their extreme worry about his condition, with his sister Shaunteh stating: "I just immediately thought, 'OMG, he’s dying.' Like, that’s just how serious we took it".
After being in a coma for two months, Banks recovered and was released from the hospital. In an interview with Channel 2's Audrey Washington, Banks shared that he is working to get his life back on track. He reflected on how his life had changed since his illness, saying that before he became sick, he was on a hit reality show and the picture of good health.
Banks' journey to recovery has been challenging, but his determination and positive outlook are helping him rebuild his life. He is grateful for the support he received during his illness and the opportunity to share his story with others. Banks' experience has also highlighted the importance of being your own advocate when it comes to health, as his journey demonstrates how crucial it is to seek medical attention and not downplay any symptoms.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Alexx Banks is out of the hospital. He was hospitalized in 2018 for a rare case of brain flu and was put on life support.
Brain flu is an extremely rare condition where a flu virus enters the brain tissue and causes inflammation of the brain.
Symptoms of brain flu can include flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and weakness. It can also cause dehydration and kidney damage.
