Yolanda Foster says her children have 'kept her alive' in more ways than one amid her battle with Lyme disease.

The 52-year-old talks about her illness in an episode of The Dr. Oz Show which will air on Tuesday, and said in a preview clip that her eldest daughter Gigi Hadid would drive her to hospital in the middle of the night.

Yolanda also revealed that she has had suicidal thoughts in the past, but said her three children Gigi, 20, Bella, 19, and Anwar, 16, got her through those dark times.

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'It made them grow up a lot faster': Yolanda Foster reveals how her Lyme disease has affected her children in a preview clip for her appearance on Tuesday's episode of The Dr. Oz Show

'It made them grow up all of a sudden, a lot faster,' the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star told Dr. Oz of her Lyme disease battle.

'There were nights where Gigi, at three o'clock in the morning, had to drive me to the emergency room because I had such severe inflammation in my brain that I'd be balling on the floor like, "Please take me to the hospital."

'So you know, and not just Gigi driving, Anwar and Bella in the back of the car and the three of us going to the hospital. And, them being there, they learn to take charge and be my strength.'

Yolanda also told the TV health expert about how the teenagers gave her hope through the most difficult times of her illness.

See Gigi Hadid updates as Yolanda Foster reveals she drove her to hospital at 3am

Getting her through it: The 52-year-old said (L-R) Gigi, 20, Anwar, 16, and 19-year-old Bella 'kept her alive'. They are pictured here at the Global Lyme Alliance Gala in October, where Yolanda revealed that Bella and Anwar are also battling Lyme disease

Supportive: Yolanda revealed model Gigi, who she is pictured with in November, would drive her to the hospital at 3am when she was in pain

'My children is what kept me alive,' she shared. 'I remember just waiting for them to get out of school, just to give them a hug and look at them for hope.

'There were many days that I really didn't want to live anymore. But when you look at your children it's not a choice anymore, right? You have to. You have to get through. You have to keep fighting and searching to get well.'

Yolanda has been raising awareness about Lyme disease since her diagnosis in 2012, and documenting her treatment on social media.

The former model's battle with the debilitating disease has also been shown on her reality show The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills, with some of her co-stars questioning the severity of her illness.

Dark times: The reality star admitted that she had days when she 'really didn't want to live anymore'

Inspiring her: Yolanda said that she kept 'fighting and searching' for a cure for the sake of her children

In October last year, Yolanda revealed that Bella and Anwar were also suffering from Lyme disease while speaking at the Global Lyme Alliance gala.

'When my two youngest children, Bella and Anwar, were diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease in early 2012, watching my babies struggle in silence in order to support me in my journey struck the deepest core of hopelessness inside of me,' she shared.

Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria spread by the bite of an infected deer tick. Symptoms include pain in the muscles or joints, fever, malaise, and chronic fatigue.

No definitive treatment or cure for the illness has been found.

Scary stuff: The former model revealed the pain she would be in due to inflammation in her brain

Sharing her story: Dr. Oz was delighted to help Yolanda raise awareness about Lyme disease by having her on the show

Last month, Gigi won the Celebrity Showdown episode of MasterChef, and donated her $25,000 winnings to The Global Lyme Alliance for Lyme Disease.

She became tearful as she said: 'My mom, sister and brother are all affected by Lyme disease. Not enough people know what Lyme disease is and the dangers of being bitten by an insect.

The model added: 'I'm the only one of my siblings…my mom and my family that hasn't been affected by Lyme disease.'

Yolanda split from husband David Foster in December, and after filing for divorce she changed her surname back to Hadid (her first husband's name) to match her children.

Raising awareness: Yolanda has been raising awareness about Lyme disease since her diagnosis in 2012, and documenting her treatment on social media. She shared this photo last month