‘I’m Not Dying Until I Do,’ Says Valerie Harper

Valerie Harper was recently diagnosed with terminal brain cancer but she isn’t going to spend the rest of her life waiting to die. Nope, the famous actress said: “I’m not dying until I do.”

Harper, who is best known for playing Rhoda Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and then on her own spin-off, Rhoda, was told last week that she has between three to six months to live.

Harper appeared on Today this morning and said that she was going to live “each moment fully” until her time is up.

Harper said: “It could be a week, it could be three months, it could be several years … I have an intention to live each moment fully. I’m not dying until I do.”

Harper said that when people hear words like “terminal” and “incurable” they tend to think that its a death sentence. But the actress said that she is trying not to look at her diagnosis that way. Instead, Harper is keeping her mind “open to infinite possibilities” and miracles.

Harper said: “It feels awful damn good to be open about (the illness), face it and see what you can do. If you die, you’re not a failure. You’re just somebody who had cancer, and that’s the outcome. (You have to keep) your thoughts open to infinite possibility and keep yourself open to miracles.”

Here’s a video of Valerie Harper on Today.

What do you think of Valerie Harper’s attitude? Do you find the words, “I’m not dying until I do” inspiring?