Valerie Harper: More than hope

(Photo by Maggie)

Valerie Harper is not just sitting around waiting to die.  Like the rest of us, she knows that death is inevitable – but like the rest of us, she doesn't know exactly when it will come.

Sure, doctors have guessed at some figures:  one week, three months, perhaps years.  Come to think of it, that's all any of us might really have this time around.

And doctors are careful these days…  They tuck their pronouncements about her leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (rare brain cancer) into phrases such as "incurable thus far."  But Valerie is not hanging onto the "incurable" part.  She's sticking with the "thus far."

She recently (and courageously) appeared on the Today show with Savannah Guthrie.  During that interview, Harper proclaimed:  I'm not dying until I do.  This may sound somewhat trite, but for the realization that so many with a "clean bill of health" have already died within.

As for hope?  Valerie did say that she was hopeful, but immediately added:  More than hopeful…  I have an intention to live each …moment fully.  It is said that "intention" is more powerful than even hope.  Closely aligned with the force of love, she is also affirming – along with Saint Paul and her own very devoted family – that "the greatest of these [faith, hope, love] is love…"   

Resources

http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2013/03/11/17267626-valerie-harper-on-cancer-im-not-dying-until-i-do?lite

Copyright March 18, 2013 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved