Tulsi Gabbard, former Director of National Intelligence, has shared a hopeful and emotional update regarding her husband Abraham Williams' successful surgery for sacral chordoma, an extremely rare form of bone cancer. In a video posted to X, Gabbard announced that pathologists and doctors are confident all cancerous bone and tissue were removed during the procedure.
Williams is now undergoing rigorous physical therapy. "He gets frustrated a lot because he wants to be able to make progress faster, and sometimes he's pushed a little bit too far, but overall, Abraham is progressing very well," Gabbard stated. She cautioned, however, that "the reality is that the battle isn't over yet."
Gabbard had resigned from the Trump administration in May to support her husband's health battle, officially stepping down from her cabinet position at the end of June. She described the diagnosis of sacral chordoma as receiving a call about a "one in a million type of cancer."
The couple opted for surgery over radiation for the rare, slow-growing tumor, which develops in the sacrum, the bone at the base of the spine. The surgery lasted nearly eight hours. Gabbard recounted the challenging post-operative period, noting Williams' body reacted to anesthesia and that he endured significant pain, particularly as he "refused to take any narcotic pain medication."
While currently cancer-free, Williams will require frequent MRI scans to monitor for any recurrence of the cancer. Gabbard expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of prayers and well wishes from the public, thanking doctors, the surgical team, and everyone who has offered support throughout their challenging journey. She concluded the video, embracing her husband, with "Mahalo nui loa to you all."