Re: People magazine article on Bernie Mac

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the updated story from People. It was a well written article.

Debbie T.

Co-Moderator

Subject: People magazine article on Bernie MacTo: "neurosarcoid" <neurosarcoidosis >Date: Sunday, August 10, 2008, 9:37 AM

Only on People.com

Bernie Mac's Death: What Happened?

By Hilary Shenfeld and Ivory Jeff Clinton

Originally posted Saturday August 09, 2008 07:00 PM EDT

Bernie Mac Photo by: Pitts / Landov

Bernie Mac’s wife and daughter were with him until the very end, says the late comic's sister-in-law in a personal and touching interview with PEOPLE that took place Saturday. Speaking of a heartbreaking moment between her younger sister, Rhonda, and the 50-year-old actor-comedian – who succumbed to complications from pneumonia in a Chicago hospital at 2 a.m. Saturday – Ann Grossett says that the night before Mac died, "He struggled for his life. He couldn't breathe. "He opened his eyes on his own and looked at Rhonda. She called his name, and he opened his eyes and nodded to her. She smiled at him and told him, 'Don't leave me … 'I'm waiting for you to come back.' He shrugged his shoulders, and she said that's when she knew

he was tired. He signaled to her that his body was tired." Rhonda, Mac’s wife since 1977, and their 30-year-old daughter, Je'Niece, 30, were with him when he died. "[The doctors] were working on him," says Grossett. "They tried to resuscitate him two times. One time he came back for about an hour. Then he went into cardiac arrest the second time." Prior to that, the couple had last communicated on July 31. "He told his wife [non-verbally] that he could breathe on his own, and he wanted the ventilator out. He motioned that he wanted it out," says Grossett.

Lung Disease ContributedThe sister-in-law says Mac's inflammatory lung disease contributed to his death. "He had sarcoidosis, but it was in remission," she says. "But because he had it, his immune system was compromised. He had an infection ... He was on a new medication that suppresses the immune system, and that's where the pneumonia came from." She reveals that Mac – having trouble breathing and running a fever – was actually hospitalized on July 24, eight days before the date given for his admittance. The actor was diagnosed with pneumonia and immediately placed on a ventilator. "He was critically ill when he was in the hospital," says Gossett. "He was in intensive care the whole time." She adds that doctors kept

the star sedated, although he was conscious at times and he contracted a second strain of pneumonia while in the hospital.

His Wife's ReactionOf her widowed sibling (like Mac, Rhonda is 50), Grossett says, "She’s devastated. However, she's at peace about his transition because of her faith in God. Her faith is what is sustaining her." She says of the couple's enduring union, "They had 30 years of marriage. That's unprecedented in today's time, particularly for celebrities. That brings joy to her. They loved each other and respected each other on a daily basis. She was by his side to the very end." Recalling the couple's early years, when they were still in their teens, Grossett says, "When they started dating, he said, 'Girl, you better come on board this train, because I'm going to be rich.' And her response was, 'Okay,' and they were married. That's how he charmed her, with his sense of humor." She adds, "When they got married they were kids. He was 20 and she was 19. They both grew up together, and they both matured in this marriage.

'She's Going to Miss Him Dearly'"What she will treasure the most is the fact that she was his wife for 30 years – and not only was she his wife, but she was his best friend. She's going to miss him dearly." Mac’s funeral is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 15, at an undisclosed location. The family requests that donations be made to the Bernie Mac Foundation for Sarcoidosis, 40 E. Ninth St., Suite 601, Chicago IL 60605.

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these."

~ Washington Carver

[Guest guest]

I think it's awesome that they are requesting donations be made to the Sarcoidosis foundation, maybe just maybe there will be some money to start doing some testing to find the best drugs to treat this disease? wouldn't that be

great! 50 is just to young to die. God Bless, Marla

Only on People.com

Bernie Mac's Death: What Happened?

By Hilary Shenfeld and Ivory Jeff Clinton

Originally posted Saturday August 09, 2008 07:00 PM EDT

Bernie Mac Photo by: Pitts / Landov

Bernie Mac's wife and daughter were with him until the very end, says the late comic's sister-in-law in a personal and touching interview with PEOPLE that took place Saturday.

Speaking of a heartbreaking moment between her younger sister, Rhonda, and the 50-year-old actor-comedian –

who succumbed to complications from pneumonia in a Chicago hospital at 2 a.m. Saturday – Ann Grossett says that the night before Mac died, " He struggled for his life. He couldn't breathe.

" He opened his eyes on his own and looked at Rhonda. She called his name, and he opened his eyes and nodded to her. She smiled at him and told him, 'Don't leave me … 'I'm waiting for you to come back.' He shrugged his shoulders, and she said that's when she knew he was tired. He signaled to her that his body was tired. "

Rhonda, Mac's wife since 1977, and their 30-year-old daughter, Je'Niece, 30, were with him when he died. " [The doctors] were working on him, " says Grossett. " They tried to resuscitate him two times. One time he came back for about an hour. Then he went into cardiac arrest the second time. "

Prior to that, the couple had last communicated

on July 31. " He told his wife [non-verbally] that he could breathe on his own, and he wanted the ventilator out. He motioned that he wanted it out, " says Grossett.

Lung Disease ContributedThe sister-in-law says Mac's inflammatory lung disease contributed to his death. " He had sarcoidosis, but it was in remission, " she says. " But because he had it, his immune system was compromised. He had an infection ... He was on a new medication that suppresses the immune system, and that's where the pneumonia came from. "

She reveals that Mac – having trouble breathing and running a fever – was actually hospitalized on July 24, eight days before the date given for his admittance. The actor was diagnosed with pneumonia and immediately placed on a ventilator.

" He was critically ill when he was in the hospital, " says Gossett. " He was in intensive care the whole time. " She adds that doctors kept the star sedated, although he was conscious at times

and he contracted a second strain of pneumonia while in the hospital.

His Wife's ReactionOf her widowed sibling (like Mac, Rhonda is 50), Grossett says, " She's devastated. However, she's at peace about his transition because of her faith in God. Her faith is what is sustaining her. "

She says of the couple's enduring union, " They had 30 years of marriage. That's unprecedented in today's time, particularly for celebrities. That brings joy to her. They loved each other and respected each other on a daily basis. She was by his side to the very end. "

Recalling the couple's early years, when they were still in their teens, Grossett says, " When they started dating, he said, 'Girl, you better come on board this train, because I'm going to be rich.' And her response was, 'Okay,' and they were married. That's how he charmed her, with his sense of humor. "

She adds, " When they got married they were kids. He was 20 and she was 19. They both grew up together, and they both matured in this marriage.

'She's Going to Miss Him Dearly' " What she will treasure the most is the fact that she was his wife for 30 years – and not only was she his wife, but she was his best friend. She's going to miss him dearly. "

Mac's funeral is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 15, at an undisclosed location. The family requests that donations be made to the Bernie Mac Foundation for Sarcoidosis, 40 E. Ninth St., Suite 601, Chicago IL 60605.

" How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these. "

~ Washington Carver

-- Marla Bramer Independent Beauty Consultant Kaymbramer@... www.marykay.com

'I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you; Plans to give you a future and a hope

[Guest guest]

okay, so if Bernie Mac was truly in remission, why was he on immune suppressing drugs? We all know that we're only on them when we are suffering from sarc symptoms. I believe that his was flaring but because of the entertainment's industry fear of growing old, fat or out of favor, he probably kept it quiet. I know I would if I were him. The kiss of death, I would imagine in that industry. Just my own thoughts here, btw. Bonnie BLooking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos.

[Guest guest]

I was watching CNN showbiz tonight last night and they had the director of a Movie Bernie just finished, with that other guy that just died too of a stroke, they both had just finished this movie, anyway the director was saying that Bernie had been sick for a long time, he came to the set with Oxygen on, he used it all the time except when he was filming, said he'd been sick for years, that he has this really awful disease call Sarcoidosis, at that point he was cut off, and they said well it must be really hard on you to loose two actors so close together, and not another word of Sarcoid, so know we know he was not in remission at all, sounds like he was pretty sick. I am going to go to CNN showbiz.com, maybe if I say I would like to hear a little bit more about this disease they do something?? Never give up, so I won't.

hope you are all having a good day! Blessings, Marla \

Only on People.com

Bernie Mac's Death: What Happened?

By Hilary Shenfeld and Ivory Jeff Clinton

Originally posted Saturday August 09, 2008 07:00 PM EDT

Bernie Mac Photo by: Pitts / Landov

Bernie Mac's wife and daughter were with him until the very end, says the late comic's sister-in-law in a personal and touching interview with PEOPLE that took place Saturday.

Speaking of a heartbreaking moment between her younger sister, Rhonda, and the 50-year-old actor-comedian –

who succumbed to complications from pneumonia in a Chicago hospital at 2 a.m. Saturday – Ann Grossett says that the night before Mac died, " He struggled for his life. He couldn't breathe.

" He opened his eyes on his own and looked at Rhonda. She called his name, and he opened his eyes and nodded to her. She smiled at him and told him, 'Don't leave me … 'I'm waiting for you to come back.' He shrugged his shoulders, and she said that's when she knew he was tired. He signaled to her that his body was tired. "

Rhonda, Mac's wife since 1977, and their 30-year-old daughter, Je'Niece, 30, were with him when he died. " [The doctors] were working on him, " says Grossett. " They tried to resuscitate him two times. One time he came back for about an hour. Then he went into cardiac arrest the second time. "

Prior to that, the couple had last communicated

on July 31. " He told his wife [non-verbally] that he could breathe on his own, and he wanted the ventilator out. He motioned that he wanted it out, " says Grossett.

Lung Disease ContributedThe sister-in-law says Mac's inflammatory lung disease contributed to his death. " He had sarcoidosis, but it was in remission, " she says. " But because he had it, his immune system was compromised. He had an infection ... He was on a new medication that suppresses the immune system, and that's where the pneumonia came from. "

She reveals that Mac – having trouble breathing and running a fever – was actually hospitalized on July 24, eight days before the date given for his admittance. The actor was diagnosed with pneumonia and immediately placed on a ventilator.

" He was critically ill when he was in the hospital, " says Gossett. " He was in intensive care the whole time. " She adds that doctors kept the star sedated, although he was conscious at times

and he contracted a second strain of pneumonia while in the hospital.

His Wife's ReactionOf her widowed sibling (like Mac, Rhonda is 50), Grossett says, " She's devastated. However, she's at peace about his transition because of her faith in God. Her faith is what is sustaining her. "

She says of the couple's enduring union, " They had 30 years of marriage. That's unprecedented in today's time, particularly for celebrities. That brings joy to her. They loved each other and respected each other on a daily basis. She was by his side to the very end. "

Recalling the couple's early years, when they were still in their teens, Grossett says, " When they started dating, he said, 'Girl, you better come on board this train, because I'm going to be rich.' And her response was, 'Okay,' and they were married. That's how he charmed her, with his sense of humor. "

She adds, " When they got married they were kids. He was 20 and she was 19. They both grew up together, and they both matured in this marriage.

'She's Going to Miss Him Dearly' " What she will treasure the most is the fact that she was his wife for 30 years – and not only was she his wife, but she was his best friend. She's going to miss him dearly. "

Mac's funeral is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 15, at an undisclosed location. The family requests that donations be made to the Bernie Mac Foundation for Sarcoidosis, 40 E. Ninth St., Suite 601, Chicago IL 60605.

" How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these. "

~ Washington Carver

-- Marla Bramer Independent Beauty Consultant Kaymbramer@... www.marykay.com

'I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you; Plans to give you a future and a hope