In January Valerie Harper admitted that back in 2009 she beat lung cancer in her memoir, I, Rhoda, and also on GMA; but today she revealed to People some health news about herself and the prognosis is the worst. The 73 year old actress has a rare form of brain cancer called leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, and doctors say she has as “little as three months to live.” According to what she told People she is trying to extend that time by going through chemotherapy which will slow down the rapid spreading cancer, but she is also realistic about her diagnosis.
She told People when she found out on January 15th days before that GMA interview, “I was stunned” Then she added, “And in the next minute I thought, ‘This could draw more attention to cancer research.’ I think there’s an opportunity to help people.”
The actress who made us laugh for years as Rhoda, is making us cry to today as we honor her bravery. Instead of taking this lying down, she is standing up and bringing attention to cancer. I respect her for doing so.
I pray that the next few months are as peaceful as they can be for her. That she continues to live her final days to her fullest and not let this cancer take away from whatever time she has left.
On the cover of People she says, “Don’t miss your life.” So takes those words to heart and do something you always wanted to do today and also tell the people dear to you that you love them.
As a girl from The Bronx, I grew up with Rhoda as a role model because that is where her character moved to after The Mary Tyler Moore Show and I have always been a huge fan of hers. I have followed her career from then on and made sure to watch whatever she was a part of. Last year when she was on Drop Dead Diva, I couldn’t get over how beautiful she looks. She hadn’t aged a day since the ’70s.
Today we can see her beauty on the insider and the out. Peace be with her.
Just days before Frankie Muniz turns 27, he suffered a mini-stroke. The Malcolm in the Middle star Tweeted, “I was in the hospital last Friday. I suffered a ‘Mini Stroke’, which was not fun at all. Have to start taking care of my body! Getting old!” According to TMZ his friends saw him acting weird so they took him to the hospital, it was there he got his scary diagnosis for someone so young. As of now doctors don’t know what caused it.
Hopefully tomorrow for his birthday, he will get the gift of better health and this was a one time scare never to happen again to him.
A lot of us know Lisa Whelchel from The Facts of Life, but a whole new group of people are getting to know her as a contestant on Survivor this season. Well now the actress turned reality competition contestant took to Facebook yesterday to announce that she has West Nile Virus. All Blair Warner said was “Dr. just called with blood test results…I have West Nile. Ugh. I’m fine, just tired. Takes a year to recover. :(” At this time it is unclear if he she got it when she was in the Philippines shooting the CBS show or if she got it in her native Texas, the latter making more sense. But we are all hoping that she will recover quicker than her expected time because I know I for one love having her back on our televisions every week. You know one of the networks needs to cast her on another sitcom ASAP. Or how about we bring back The Facts of Life for a whole new generation? What else is the cast doing?
BTW Lisa is still a contestant on Survivor, so make sure to watch her tonight at 8p on the show. Who knew Lisa was nothing like her famous character? I mean Blair would’ve been out the second she found out there were no showers, but Lisa is still is going strong!
Alex Trebek suffered a mild heart attack yesterday and he is expected to make a full recovery. According to The Hollywood Reporter he is expected to be back at work on Jeopardy’s 29th season when it begins production next month. This is the game show host’s second heart attack, and just like now back in 2007 he was back at work in a few weeks.
Let’s hope for what is a speedy recovery.
Michael McKean was walking in Manhattan yesterday when he was struck by a car. According to The NY Daily News the actor was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, but after doctors looked at him they upgraded his condition stable. His publicist Harriet Steinberg said he suffered a broken leg and “he’ll be okay, hopefully he’ll be fine. It’s pretty devastating.â€
The actor is starring in the Broadway show The Best Men and yesterday was the first time he missed a call in his whole career.
Hopefully he will be better soon and will never have to miss another show again.
