Priscilla Presley Says Lisa Marie’s Death Was Second Saddest Day Of Life: What Was Saddest Day?

Priscilla Presley has had many sad days throughout her life, but losing her daughter Lisa Marie ranks near the top.

Speaking with People, she called the death of her daughter the second saddest day of her existence. Her daughter passed away in January 2023 from a small bowel obstruction. She had undergone bariatric surgery several years ago.

What was her saddest day: “It was the second saddest day of my life, other than losing Elvis [Presley],” Priscilla told People. “It took a long time to come to terms with the fact that Lisa was gone.”

Elvis, of course, passed away in 1977 from a heart attack. He had been only 42 at the time.

Priscilla Presley Reflects On Daughter

Priscilla Presley’s loss of her daughter remains fresh and unbearable. Speaking with the outlet, she said the family prayed for a miracle that never arrived.

“We were there all day long. Lisa really wasn’t breathing, so she was on the ventilator,” Priscilla told People. “The doctor came in and said, ‘Priscilla, I’m so sorry, she’s gone.’ We just couldn’t believe it — didn’t want to believe it. It was hard on all of us; it still is.”

It was just the latest tragedy to befall the Presley family. In 2020, Lisa Marie lost her own son when Benjamin Keough committed suicide at 27.

On Lisa Marie’s death: In her upcoming memoir, Priscilla reflects on Lisa Marie’s death and those tragic final moments.

• “She was hooked to a machine that was breathing for her, and she had a heartbeat. There was little brain activity,” Priscilla writes. “Then we heard an emergency alarm from Lisa’s room. It was a code blue; Lisa’s heart had stopped.”

• “The next thing I remember is the doctor talking to me. He asked me what I wanted him to do. They had restarted Lisa’s heart, but there was no guarantee it would keep beating. I asked the doctor, ‘What kind of life will she have if we keep her on that machine?’ He looked at me with compassion and shook his head. ‘No quality of life at all.’”
• “I said what I had to. ‘Take her off the machine, Doctor.’ My voice was barely above a whisper.”