Amid his ongoing battle with brain cancer, Michael Bolton’s daughters are providing a heartfelt update on his health and their experience as caregivers. In an interview with AARP, published on Friday, Dec. 19, Isa and Taryn shared how their father has been doing since revealing his diagnosis earlier this year. The sisters, along with their sister Holly, have taken on the role of primary caregivers for their father since his diagnosis in December 2023.
“We’re proud and happy to update anyone who has been interested in following [our Dad’s] journey that he is in very good spirits and very good health,” Isa said. “He has a lot of challenges, and we do have great days and some tough days, but in general, he’s very strong. His mobility and cognition have been terrific. So, we’re in a really good place right now.”
Bolton has undergone two brain surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy, completing his treatment in October 2024. He now undergoes MRIs every two months to monitor for any signs of recurrence due to the high rate of tumor recurrence associated with glioblastoma.
The sisters also reflected on the challenges of stepping into the role of caregivers, noting that their family had become a “very small island” following their father’s diagnosis.
“One of the interesting things about becoming an adult child caregiver to a parent is that the relationship dynamic does shift so profoundly,” Isa explained. “You have an opportunity to work through some things that were challenging and to redefine the relationship in a new way.”
Taryn added, “At times, taking care of other people, you get burnt out, and you get lost, and you get sad, and you get lonely — all of these things.”
Despite the difficulties, the sisters expressed gratitude for the increased time they have been able to spend together as a family, enjoying activities like watching television shows, playing board games, and even engaging in trivia nights.
“He’s been home for two years, recovering,” Isa said. “He’s with one of his children or multiple children and grandchildren for all of his meals. We probably had more meals with him in two years than we have had our entire lives.”
“We don’t know how much time we’re ever going to have with anyone, and so I’ll ask my father random questions about things we’ve never discussed before, [which leads] into really interesting and profound conversations,” she added.
Bolton shares his three daughters with ex-wife Maureen McGuire, to whom he was married from 1975 to 1990.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.