Valerie Harper is reportedly in a coma after being rushed to the hospital on Wednesday night, reports Entertainment Tonight.
The 73-year old actress was found unconscious backstage Wednesday evening, shortly before the start of a theater performance, reports Us Weekly. Harper was at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine, where she is currently starring in the musical "Nice Work If You Can Get It." The star was taken to the York hospital for treatment and observation, and was reportedly discharged on Thursday.
However, a source close to the actress' family told Entertainment Tonight that Harper is now in a coma. It seems the actress was discharged from York hospital Thursday and was transferred via a med-vac to a larger hospital for treatment.
The Entertainment Tonight (ET) report also recounted how the play's director told the audience Wednesday that Harper was hoping to return on stage after "some fluids and rest." Bradford T. Kenney, Executive Artistic Director said: "Valerie Harper was taken to a local hospital as a precaution before her July 29 evening performance of 'Nice Work If You Can Get It,' at the Ogunquit Playhouse, after reporting that she was not feeling well. She is resting comfortably and will remain in the hospital for observation for the time being... we are encouraged that she is feeling better."
The reassuring message seemed at odds with what a source told ET at the time: "It doesn't look good."
The Us Weekly report stated that Harper was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in March 2013. Despite the diagnosis, the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" star stayed optimistic and continued to enjoy life, participating in various projects such as "Dancing with the Stars." Earlier in June, Harper told the magazine that she's "doing quite well" and how each test is looking "better and better." Harper said, "It's incurable, but that's okay.... I was supposed to be dead in three months, and here it is a year and six months later."
The veteran actress added: "I don't wake up thinking, 'I'm going to die.' I don't do that. It's a waste of time. It really is. My husband's [Tony Cacciotti] right there [when I wake up], and I think, 'Isn't he cute? Thank you, God, for this day.'"
