Riley Keough, daughter of the late singer Lisa Marie Presley, is sharing insights into her mother’s longstanding health struggles in her new memoir, “From Here to the Great Unknown.” The book, which Keough helped her mother write shortly before Presley’s death in January 2023, explores the challenges Presley faced, including battles with opioid addiction, body image issues, and heart problems.
Presley’s opioid use began after the birth of her twin daughters in 2008, initially prescribed for pain relief post-C-section. As time went on, she started using the medication to cope with insomnia. Keough reveals that before this, her mother had only a brief encounter with drugs during her teenage years.
In the memoir, Presley discusses how her mental state deteriorated after leaving the Church of Scientology, leading her to increase her opioid intake as a means to cope with loss. Keough details her mother’s descent into addiction, describing a cycle of using cocaine to manage opioid withdrawal, which compounded Presley’s struggles. Her addiction escalated to the point where she was consuming up to 80 pills daily.
After facing legal intervention that led to a court-ordered rehab, Presley continued to grapple with addiction despite attempts to manage her treatment. A seizure later prompted a significant moment of reflection for Presley, leading her to express a desire for change.
Tragically, Presley suffered cardiac arrest shortly before her passing. The medical event differs from a heart attack, which occurs due to blocked blood flow to the heart. Keough recounts that her father brought Presley medication for stomach pain before paramedics arrived. Although she briefly regained consciousness, she suffered another cardiac arrest and ultimately passed away.
Additionally, Presley had a family history of heart issues, with her father Elvis Presley having died from a heart attack at a young age. This history of cardiac problems, including arrhythmias and coronary artery disease, was significant in assessing the risks she faced.
The memoir also reflects on Presley’s previous experiences with heart failure and her struggles to seek medical help, despite the urging of her children. In a significant health setback, Presley had her uterus removed in 2022 due to complications from an infection, which further compounded her declining health.
Ultimately, an autopsy revealed the cause of Presley’s death to be complications from a small bowel obstruction linked to bariatric weight-loss surgery she had undergone years earlier. Keough highlighted her mother’s desire for the surgery to combat lifelong struggles with weight, but there were concerns about her being in rehab during the decision-making process.
In the weeks leading to her death, Presley exhibited various health warning signs, including abdominal pain and swelling, a condition exacerbated by the small bowel obstruction caused by scar tissue from the earlier surgery. Keough recalled intense worry among her family regarding her mother’s declining health, particularly her frequent complaints about stomach troubles.