Real Housewives of Orange County star Vicki Gunvalson's daughter has just been hospitalized for complications from lupus.

Trying Times

Briana Culberson's husband, Ryan, shared a photo on Instagram Monday, April 2, showing his wife lying on a hospital bed in North Carolina. She is currently battling an inflammation around her heart as a result of complications from lupus, which require a cardiac ablation.

"Thinking of Briana...as well as you and the boys! She's a strong woman, she'll pull through," commented one fan.

Given how serious the situation appears to be, however, Ryan has still kept fans updated on social media. He subsequently posted an Instagram story with their two young sons en route to visit their mother.

An Ongoing Battle

Briana's illness became known to the public during the Real Housewives of Orange County Season 11 finale back in 2016. It was revealed then that she has lupus, an incurable autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and fatigue.

Culberson's health journey has been difficult in the intervening years, particularly for her kids. Her mother, on the other hand, gave an update on the situation, stressing how hard it is for her.

"Lupus has affected part of her heart, it's literally something every other week," she said toward the end of last year.

Gunvalson explained that her daughter's immune system is very low, but she's coping as best she can.

"You know, she's finding her way with what she can do with it. She wants to work ... but she's limited," she explained.

The 56-year-old Bravo reality star has spoken at length about her daughter's struggles with the disease, particularly citing a 2016 surgery in which she almost died. Culberson is set to turn 31 later this week.

Meanwhile, Gunvalson's ex-partner, Brooks Ayers, recently remarried. Ayers was part of a long-running storyline about cancer on the hit show, which may have been a ruse or not.

Ayers told the media that he's moving on with his life and he has never been happier. He dated Gunvalson for several seasons of the Bravo reality show.

Tags: Vicki Gunvalson Briana Gulberson Real Housewives of Orange County lupus