Brandi Glanville’s Close Call: A Poolside Scare and a Hopeful New Chapter

Brandi Glanville has faced more than her share of challenges lately but even she didn’t expect a lighthearted moment by the pool to become one of her closest calls. The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star is currently navigating a gruelling daily treatment regimen for a mysterious facial condition she believes is caused by a parasite. Yet amid the struggle, she found a moment of laughter, relief, and renewed optimism even when she accidentally ended up fully clothed in the water.

A Playful Push Takes an Unexpected Turn

It was meant to be nothing more than a fun, silly moment between friends. Brandi and her Brandi Unfiltered podcast co-host James Maas were posing poolside when she gave him a playful shove toward the water. What happened next was entirely unplanned: as Maas leaned forward, his instinct was to reach out and steady himself and in doing so, he pulled Brandi right in alongside him.

“My instinct was to grab onto her which pulled her in and almost broke her [PICC line] and machine 🤦‍♂️ 😮‍💨,” Maas shared in an October 21 Instagram post capturing the whole sequence.

For anyone else, an unexpected dip might just mean wet clothes and a good story. For Brandi, it was a genuine worry. She wears a PICC line a thin, flexible tube inserted into a vein in her arm connected to a portable IV pump that delivers medication around the clock. Water damage could have meant disrupted treatment, damaged equipment, or even infection. Happily, she reported afterward: “The PICC line and IV bag stayed out of the water.” The scare passed, and she emerged smiling grateful, relieved, and still finding humour in the moment.

"Chet" and Her Daily Battle

Brandi has named her portable medication device “Chet,” turning an essential but cumbersome piece of medical gear into something personal, even beloved. It’s a small act of defiance against a condition that has taken so much from her.

The setup delivers 18‑hour daily infusions of hydration, potassium, and antibiotics a routine that never pauses, whether she’s at home, travelling, or posing for photos by the pool. A PICC line, as explained by the Cleveland Clinic, is designed for long‑term intravenous therapy, making it the best option when treatment stretches on for months or years. For Brandi, it has become a constant, visible companion: in photos from the day, she wears a long grey glove covering the port in her arm, protecting it even as she tries to live as normally as possible.

Four Years of Uphill Fighting

Her struggle began four years ago. Describing the pain and disfigurement, she has said plainly: “Something is in my face eating it.” She believes the cause is a parasite one that has eluded easy answers despite seeing 21 different doctors and spending an estimated $200,000 seeking diagnosis and relief. She has spoken of ultrasounds showing movement, of treatments costing $16,000, and of moments of despair where she wondered if she would ever get her life back.

Yet through it all, she has kept showing up sharing her journey openly, refusing to let shame or silence take over. “I want my life back,” she has said, and that determination has carried her through every discouraging appointment and painful procedure.

Exploratory Surgery and New Hope

Now, there is light ahead. Brandi is scheduled to undergo exploratory surgery designed to trace and address what is happening inside her face. Doctors will examine her eustachian tubes, sinuses, and gums and if all goes well, place a small balloon to help open and drain passages that may be blocked.

“I am so excited. These past four years I didn’t think I was going to make it,” she admitted. It is a vulnerable admission from someone who has fought longer and harder than anyone should have to. The procedure is not a guaranteed cure, but it is a proactive step one that gives her reason to believe answers, healing, and relief may finally be within reach.

Finding Joy in the Small Things

That afternoon by the pool captured exactly who Brandi is: someone who refuses to let illness stop her from laughing, teasing, and living. A splash, a scare, a moment of relief these are the threads that hold hope together. With “Chet” safe and dry, with surgery on the horizon, and with friends like James right beside her, she is moving forward.

Her face, her life, her future she is fighting for all of it. And this time, she might just be stepping out of the water and into something better.