“The Real Housewives of Orange County” star Emily Simpson considered taking a break from the show after learning her son Luke, 10, had a rare medical condition. What changed her mind was the potential help from fans she might receive once the show aired.
“… I really thought at some point, when the audience sees this, I’ll probably get a lot of answers and help from our audience,” Simpson told The Hollywood Reporter, “because they’re so amazing, and they really get so invested in our lives.”
But filming the show was a challenge for Simpson. Luke was diagnosed with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), and Simpson and her husband Shane were just learning how to navigate the issue.
“The thing that came up with Luke [this season] was really challenging because it was happening in real time,” Simpson explained. “I wasn’t just reflecting back on something that we [went] through as a family …”
The ‘RHOC’ Cast Members Emily Simpson Relies On
Simpson, who has been a part of the “RHOC” cast since season 13 of the show, has been open about many personal issues over the years, including her fertility journey. She and Shane now share three children together, Annabelle, 12, and twins Luke and Keller, 10.
While dealing with Luke’s disorder, Simpson has leaned on several of her fellow cast members in particular. “First of all, all of the women were so kind and supportive,” Simpson said, but shared that Gina Kirschenheiter and Heather Dubrow were who she leaned on the most.
“Gina and I are super close, so I share a lot of things with her. But Heather is also such a great advocate, because she’s just such a good mom,” Simpson explained. Dubrow was especially supportive, according to Simpson: “She was constantly asking about Luke and how he was doing, and if I needed to talk, and she was always reaching out.”
Emily Simpson’s Advice for Parents
Simpson hoped that sharing Luke’s story would resonate with the show’s audience, and maybe provide her with some helpful advice from fans. But Simpson has some words of wisdom herself to pass along for families dealing with similar issues.
“I would say … find people that you trust, that are parents, that are moms, that you can talk to, because it gets so overwhelming,” she shared, adding, “You really need to be able to talk about it and release, and have someone say, ‘You’re doing a good job, everything’s going to be okay.’”
