'Huge heart and generous spirit': Anne Heche ALWAYS wanted to donate her organs
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Anne Heche, who is on life support after suffering a brain injury in a fiery crash a week ago, has always wanted to donate her organs and made the decision a long time ago.
A representative for the family revealed that the actress is not expected to survive. The 53-year-old Hollywood star is currently in a coma and in critical condition. According to a statement released on Thursday night, August 11, Heche is being kept on life support to determine if her organs are viable for donation. She has been hospitalized at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills hospital north of Los Angeles after suffering a “severe anoxic brain injury," which is caused by a sustained lack of oxygen to the brain.
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A representative for Heche's family said, "We want to thank everyone for their kind wishes and prayers for Anne's recovery and thank the dedicated staff and wonderful nurses that cared for Anne at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills hospital. Unfortunately, due to the accident, Anne Heche suffered a severe anoxic brain injury and remains in a coma, in critical condition. She is not expected to survive."
The rep explained that the 'Donny Brasco' actress chose to be an organ donor long ago, so she will be technically alive until the check is completed. They also said that the decision was in keeping with Heche's wishes. "It has long been her choice to donate her organs and she is being kept on life support to determine if any are viable," the statement continued, adding, "Anne had a huge heart and touched everyone she met with her generous spirit. More than her extraordinary talent, she saw spreading kindness and joy as her life's work, especially moving the needle for acceptance of who you love. She will be remembered for her courageous honesty and dearly missed for her light."
Heche's car smashed into a house in a neighborhood in west Los Angeles on the morning of Friday, August 5. The collision sparked a fire with the car embedded inside the property. Police previously said they were investigating Heche for driving under the influence. A sample of her blood showed narcotics in her system, according to LAPD spokesperson Officer Jeff Lee. It's worth noting that toxicology tests, which often take weeks to complete, are required to identify drugs more definitively and also differentiate them from any medication that may have been administered at the hospital for treatment.
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Anne Heche is BRAIN DEAD: Family shares heartbreaking news after catastrophic car accident
"She will be in a coma for a long time and there are fears she could die because her lungs don't work on their own," an anonymous source told the Daily Mail. Her rep said she has a "significant pulmonary injury requiring mechanical ventilation and burns that require surgical intervention," adding, "She is in a coma and has not regained consciousness since shortly after the accident." That said, authorities are still gathering evidence from the crash and would present a case to prosecutors if warranted once the investigation is complete, the Associated Press reported.