Ed Asner is spreading the love to his formerTheMary Tyler Moore ShowcostarValerie Harperas she struggles with cancer.
On Thursday, Asner, 89, shared a tweet honoring Harper, 79, just two days after the actress’s husband revealed thatdoctors had advised herto be moved to hospice care
“My heart goes out to @ValerieHarper and her husband Tony,” Asner wrote. “I hope you feel my love coming at you like a tidal wave.”
Asner and Harper starred together on the hit 1970s sitcomTheMary Tyler Moore Show.Asner reprised his role as Lou Grant in his own spinoff series and remains the most honored male actor in the history of thePrimetime Emmy Awards, with seven wins.
On Tuesday, Harper’s husband, Tony Cacciotti,shared a Facebook postin which he said that despite the doctor’s insistence that his wife of 32 years be moved to hospice, he was not willing to listen to them.
While the couple’s friend Deannastarted a GoFundMeon Harper’s behalf last week, the page, which had raised over $66,100 from Harper’s friends, family, and beloved fans, was shut down after members of the entertainment industry stepped forward to help with Harper’s medical expenses.
“She did so much for so many people and once they heard what was happening, they all started coming forward,” Cacciotti told PEOPLE. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would happen like this. It’s really amazing.”
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“I just didn’t want to put her into hospice care and now we’re going to be able to keep her here at home,” Cacciotti added. “She’s hanging in there. We have good days and we have tough days.”
Harper was diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in 2013, just four years after she beat lung cancer.
The condition occurs when cancer cells spread into the fluid-filled membrane surrounding the brain, known as the meninges.
Because of how unbelievably rare her story is, Cacciotti said he refuses to give up on his wife.
“We will continue going forward as long as the powers above allow us, I will do my very best in making Val as comfortable as possible,” Cacciotti wrote in the Facebook post. “There are two special ANGELS on this planet masquerading as humans who live and work together, that have made it possible to have all of Val’s needs taken care of.”
“For those of you who have been in this position, you will totally understand that ‘it’s hard letting go,’” he continued. “So as long as I’m able and capable, I’ll be where I belong right beside her.”
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Harper’s breakout role came in the 1970s while she was on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Her incredible performance as Rhoda Morgenstern earned her many awards, as well as her own spinoff showRhoda,from 1974 to 1978.
The actress later went on to star in the 1980s sitcomValerie, which was later titledValerie’s FamilyandThe Hogan Family, once Harper left the show.
After being diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, the actress defied the odds and lived beyond what doctors expected, but continued to undergo chemotherapy.
Speaking with PEOPLE in 2015, Harper explained that she was at peace with her diagnosis.
“I’m ready. I’m ready to go,” Harper admitted. “Maybe that’s the secret. That I’m absolutely – I don’t want to, my God, I want to live to be 102, but I am not banking on anything, really, because we shouldn’t. We don’t know what’s around the corner. I think you just take each day and get the best out of it and do what you can and have fun.”
source: people.com
