After Valerie Harper was rushed by ambulance to the hospital Wednesday night, a source close to the family tells ET that her family says she is now in a coma.
The 75-year-old actress was found unconscious backstage at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine, where she was performing in the musical, Nice Work If You Can Get It.
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I had a tenant once who was rushed to the hospital and I never saw her again. She left everything. When I called the hospital, all they could say was that she was released. Fact of the matter was she was dead and they released her to the mortuary.
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I hope she is able to overcome this. She's beaten the odds before.
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
UPDATE: 10:30 pm/ET: ET writes that despite earlier reports that Valerie Harper was discharged this morning, a source close to the family says her loved ones report she is now in a coma after being rushed to a larger hospital for further treatment. Nothing on Harper's current condition has been made official.
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“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
This might be one of those stories with conflicting news reports in hopes of a positive outcome. Which I'm certainly praying for. What a terrific performer and person.
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“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
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My question is how a doctor would clear a 75 year old woman with brain cancer to perform in a production of something? It takes time and rigor and no matter how big of a part she had in the show it still probably wasn't a smart idea for them to clear her. Praying for the best for her.
People with cancer are not contagious. She may have felt tired, but I would think the choice was totally up to her.
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“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
I didn't mean to be ignorant in any way or mean to insinuate that her dibilitating illness would be "contagious" in any way, but I know that usually most people have to pass a physical to do a show (or at least I thought that was the case) and I was thinking maybe it wouldn't be the most healthy choice for a woman of her condition. That's all. :)
At some point last year, I recall Harper announcing that while not technically in remission, she had basically stabilized as cancer cells were not found anywhere in her body, aside from the spot where her brain cancer originated.
Nonetheless, prayers and positivity to her and her family. She's a fighter, to say the least.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
Yes, I guess at the end of the day you're right. Better her go out doing what she loved (and what she was very talented at) then just suffering forever. Hopefully such an event will not be the case here but it doesn't look so great.
The more we know about cancer, the more we know how little we know. But most doctors encourage patients to spend their time doing what they love because, inexplicably, it prolongs life. That's what Harper has done and I think that's beyond great. My thoughts are with her. Regarding being cleared by a doctor, that would never come up unless the production is buying star performance insurance, and the Ogunquit Playhouse certainly would never do that.
"The more we know about cancer, the more we know how little we know. But most doctors encourage patients to spend their time doing what they love because, inexplicably, it prolongs life. That's what Harper has done and I think that's beyond great. My thoughts are with her. Regarding being cleared by a doctor, that would never come up unless the production is buying star performance insurance, and the Ogunquit Playhouse certainly would never do that."
Now I understand about the physical thing. Thank you very much for clearing that up. :)
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2