Tyler Henry’s Second Brain Surgery: Medium, Survivor, and Queer Icon Shines Brighter Than Ever

Tyler Henry has always had a knack for revealing the unseen—whether channeling messages from beyond or cracking open conversations about grief, identity, and what it means to live authentically as a queer person in the public eye. But this year, the “Hollywood Medium” turned his focus inward, facing down a medical saga that would shake even the bravest spirits: a second brain surgery, just months after his first, to remove a rare colloid tumor lodged near the center of his brain .

“I'm very lucky. I was dealing with something called hydrophilis, which is basically fluid being stuck around the brain and causing inflammation,” Tyler told E! News, just weeks after surgery, sounding bright and quick-witted as ever. “My tumor had an incidence rate of 1 in 3 million. I should play the lottery” .

For Tyler, humor isn’t just a coping mechanism—it’s a life force. Within weeks, he was already back on stage, conducting his “Evening of Hope and Healing” live shows and dazzling audiences across the country. “I was worried with anything related to the brain that it might affect my ability, but I found that not having brain inflammation actually made things a lot clearer,” he confessed, ever the optimist .

Tyler’s journey isn’t just about surviving rare medical crises; it’s about doing so while living openly and proudly as a gay man in the spotlight. He’s spoken candidly about the complicated process of coming out—not just once, but multiple times, and even to his own mother, who initially struggled to accept his sexuality. “It was a lot of, you know, having to repeat, like ‘I swear I’m gay. I really don’t want to have to prove it to you,’” Tyler quipped on “The Number with Darren Kennedy” in 2024, bringing levity to what so many LGBTQ+ people know too well: sometimes, coming out is a journey without a finish line .

His story resonates for a generation of queer people who’ve learned to balance pride with patience, and who’ve often had to advocate for their own truth, even among those closest to them. Tyler’s willingness to revisit these moments publicly—whether on talk shows, in interviews, or during his own readings—makes him more than a celebrity medium; he’s a queer icon unafraid to shine a light on the messy, beautiful realities of LGBTQ+ life.

Perhaps the most heartwarming plot twist in Tyler’s recent saga? He tied the knot with his longtime partner, Clint Goodwin, just before his latest surgery. “We got married just before my brain surgery, just in case anything went wrong. We went to the Beverly Hills courthouse…. As we signed the papers, Clint looked up and saw 222 on the clock, his sign from his late grandfather,” Tyler shared with E! News. “It was such a meaningful moment” .

In queer culture, the idea of “chosen family” runs deep. Tyler’s openness about his bond with Clint, and his gratitude for having a partner to lean on during life’s hardest moments, is a powerful reminder of how LGBTQ+ resilience is often built on love—romantic, platonic, or otherwise. For many, Tyler’s story is an affirmation that queer love isn’t just valid; it’s vital.

Tyler Henry’s medical history is not for the faint of heart: Born three months premature, he experienced a near-death episode in his teens, requiring emergency brain surgery for an arachnoid cyst . Later, he survived a collapsed lung after a suspected early COVID-19 infection in 2019. Each time, he’s faced uncertainty with a mix of candor and courage, inviting fans and followers into his world—not just to watch, but to share in the healing.

His willingness to talk about grief, mortality, and the challenges of being visibly queer in Hollywood makes his platform uniquely valuable. Whether he’s recounting the loss of his first love to brain cancer as a teenager or discussing his mother’s initial doubts about his sexuality, Tyler brings a rare combination of vulnerability and wit.

“I would sometimes feel kind of slow in responses and deal with aphasia where I couldn’t really find my words,” Tyler told E! News, describing symptoms before his most recent surgery. “But this was not my first time.” His candor about the physical and emotional toll of his health journey is a masterclass in transparency—a quality that LGBTQ+ audiences, so often asked to hide or minimize their own struggles, can recognize and celebrate .

Despite the grueling surgeries, Tyler’s “Evening of Hope and Healing” tour continues, drawing crowds eager not just for celebrity readings, but for the sense of connection and empowerment that comes with seeing a queer icon thrive in the face of adversity. For Tyler, performing is as much about healing himself as it is about inspiring others—a feedback loop of hope, courage, and community.

In a world that often tells LGBTQ+ people to stay quiet, Tyler Henry’s story is a bold, dazzling reminder that our voices—and our stories—matter. Whether he’s channeling spirits from the beyond or simply showing up for another day, Tyler is proof that queer resilience is more than survival: it’s an invitation to live, love, and shine unapologetically.