Bobbi Kristina Brown Health Update: Slow Recovery and Conflict over Whitney Houston’s Estate

By Mark Rollins
Bobbi Kristina Brown and Nick Gordon
Bobbi Kristina Brown (r.) and Nick Gordon attend premiere together in 2012. Getty Images

It has been a few months since Bobbi Kristina Brown, daughter of singers Bobby Brown and the late Whitney Houston, was found floating facedown in her bathtub at her Georgia home.  A medical professional has gone on record stating that her recovery will be long and that certain steps of physical therapy will need to take place.  A recent Bobbi Kristina Brown Health Update revealed that she has been moved, and the Brown and Houston family are still fighting over the estate left to her by her late mother.   

Enstarz reports that Dr. Mark Liker, a Medical Director and Neurosurgeon at Dignity Health Nothridge hospital, came forward with his thoughts about Bobbi Kristina's health.  It should be noted that he has not personally treated Bobbi Kristina herself. 

Dr. Liker has stated that Bobbi Kristina requires physical therapy on a regular basis, moving her arms and legs so her limbs do not go into permanent contraction.  He also stated that they [doctors assigned to Bobbi Kristina] will keep trying to get some sort of response from her with "frequent impulses for the leg to the brain".  This type of treatment could improve Bobbi Kristina's ability to function and lead to a speedier recovery, provided there are not any blood clots or infections. 

International Business Times also quotes Dr. Liker as saying that "I'm sure that the facility is doing the best that they can in terms of rehabilitation and ways to help her," but also adds that patients such as Bobbi Kristina have the potential to remain in a rehabilitation facility "essentially forever". 

The most recent development on Bobbi Kristina Brown's condition is that she was moved from Atlanta's Emory University Hospital  to DeKalb Medical.  DeKalb is known for its long-term care, and Bobby Brown has expressed some belief that she is getting better.  Bobby Brown made remarks about her condition, saying that Bobbi Kristina Brown was "awake".  A video surfaced on social media with Bobby Brown saying that "she [Bobbi Kristina Brown] is watching me".  Although Bobbi Kristina opening her eyes is a positive step in her recovery, it is still a long process. 

Bobby's lawyer has stated that Bobbi Kristina's condition has changed since moving from Emory University Hospital, and there has been improvement.  According to E! Online, the doctors say that "she will have a long life" and she is "presently embarking on a rehabilitation process and the quality of her life will not be known for years to come". 

The actual cause of the incident, as to why Bobbi Kristina Brown was found facedown in her bathtub, has yet to be made public.  Police haven't found evidence of substance abuse in their investigation, and the family also does not want to say anything about it as well.

There is a lot of suspicion associated with Nick Gordon, boyfriend of Bobbi Kristina.  Gordon is reported to have a substance abuse problem with at least alcohol, and, according to People.com, has ended his stint in rehab, says lawyer Randy Kessler.

Dr. Phil confronted Gordon on his drinking problem, and told Gordon to go straight to rehab, according to CNN.  Gordon did check into rehab after the episode of Dr. Phil was finished filming, but now that he is out, he is still barred from seeing Bobbi Kristina at the long-term care facility where she remains still unresponsive. 

Gordon has tweeted that he attempted to give Bobbi Kristina CPR after finding her in the bathtub, and then complained to social media about not being able to visit her in the hospital.  Bobby Brown has issued a statement about this when he said:  "Let me be very clear, Mr. Gordon was offered an opportunity to potentially visit Bobbi Kristina and he declined to meet the terms of any possible visit." 

Since the passing of Whitney Houston, both the Brown and Houston families have been feuding over Bobbi Kristina's $20 million estate that she inherited from her mother.  Bobby Brown has filed for guardianship over Bobbi Kristina's estate, but Whitney's will puts its custody under Cissy Houston, Bobbi Kristina's grandmother.  Cissy has claimed that she intends to fight Bobby Brown "to the grave" over her granddaughter's estate.