[Dashing Dasher]

It's spelled Teri, by the way - and as much as I dislike the views of HollyWeirds on politics... Teri Garr has MS - and yes - she has fallen on hard times - mainly because of her disease.

How about a little compassion?


Teri Garr

In October of 2002, actress and comedienne Teri Garr made it public that she has MS. After years of uncertainty and secrecy surrounding her diagnosis, Teri explained her reasons for deciding to share her private battle with the world, "I'm telling my story for the first time, so I can help people. I can help people know they aren't alone, and tell them there are reasons to be optimistic because today treatment options are available."

Since Garr announced publicly that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she has become a leading advocate in raising awareness for MS and the latest treatments for the disease.

She is actively involved with the National MS Society and the MS community, and travels across the United States speaking about her experiences living with MS, empowering others with MS to educate themselves about the disease and to seek treatment early.

In 2004, Teri Garr accepted the role of National Chair for the Society's Women Against MS program. Women Against MS (WAMS) is a nationwide education and fundraising program that helps to increase the public's awareness of MS and the National MS Society while acknowledging and encouraging the advancement of women philanthropists.

Since taking on her responsibilities as Chair of the WAMS program, Teri has already spoken at more than a dozen chapters and has made commitments to speak at the Maine, Allegheny District, Central Pennsylvania, Greater Delaware Valley, Delaware, Utah, and Louisiana Chapters before the end of the year.

Since going public with her MS, Garr has been an important personage at the Society's National Conferences and in recognition of her efforts to raise awareness for MS, the National MS Society presented her with its Shining Star Award in 2002. This was only the second time in the Society's 59-year history that the award has been given; the previous recipient being actor Annette Funicello. In 2003 she was awarded "Champion of the Arts Award" at the New York City Chapter's Dinner of Champions.

Garr is currently an Ambassador for MS LifeLines— an educational and support service program offered by Serono, Inc. and Pfizer Inc. for people living with MS and their families.

Born into a show business family, Garr became established in television in the 70s with appearances on Star Trek, It Takes a Thief, McCloud, and as a regular on The Sonny and Cher Show as Cher's friend Olivia. Garr was also endeared as Phoebe's birth mother on the now syndicated NBC hit show Friends. Teri has risen to become one of Hollywood's most versatile, energetic, and well-recognized actresses, starring in many memorable films including Young Frankenstein, Mr. Mom, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Tootsie, for which she was nominated for an Oscar.

Teri lives in California with her daughter. Her autobiography, Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood, was released in the fall of 2005.

[RushCrush]

Since when has an MS diagnosis warranted an extreme anti-Bush stance???

[apackof2]

Sad. I always liked Teri Garr

[Publius6961]

Sorry Dasher, but compassion, when demanded, is simply a disguised attempt at coercion, no matter how well intended.
And an infirmity seems to bring out the worst in some people, and gives them a sense of onmipotence and arrogance towards the "normal" which explains my initial support for ADA when first proposed, and my present total contempt for it.

Politics and do-goodism and serious illnesses simply do not mix well.

[backhoe]

I thank you for that information- somehow, it had escaped my attention that she was ill.

One of the great things about America is that we are a raucous, devisive bunch with a lot of divergent opinions, yet somehow we manage to pull together when it's needed, and hold elections without tanks in the streets. Hells Bells, I married a Democrat, but managed to swing her over after 20 years of gentle nagging. Politics is not where you live.

[Chanticleer]

Like Publius, I don't like everything about the ADA. However, many people (in general, not directed at anyone in particular) who don't want to be coerced into giving or helping others also don't want to do it on their own.

Sickness and disability can make one feel separated from society, helpless, lonely, frustrated, unappreciated and unloved. Desperation or frustration may be mistaken for arrogance.

I, for one, will not support the United Way for many reasons, not the least of which is the pressure I have felt from employers. Instead, I do give as generously as I can to organizations whose work I admire and support.

Compassion cannot be mandated by law, but it should be highly valued by each of us. Some conservatives seem to feel that callousness is a badge of true conservatism. I feel it's just a badge of a small spirit. Meanness is not a conservative value.

I like Teri Garr. Like you, I'm sorry about her MS. So, she's liberal. In Hollywood, is that a big surprise?

[colorcountry]

She's the only star I've ever been told I resemble...as she's gotten older and fatter, so have I. :-(