Bernie Mac‘s sister-in-law, Mary Ann Grossett, has revealed that his wife of 30 years, Rhonda, and daughter, Je’Nice, were with him until the very end.
Grossett says that the night before Mr. 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 ├óΓé¼┬ª ‘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. 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 ├óΓé¼┬ª ‘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.”
[The doctors] were working on him. 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.”
It also turns out that his reps incorrectly reported that sarcoidosis did not contribute to his death. His sister-in-law said:
“He had sarcoidosis, but it was in remission. 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.”
The funny man 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.
Also, in contradiction with the statements issued by his PR rep, the comedian was critically ill and in intensive care the entire time he was in the hospital.
Doctors reportedly kept the star sedated, although he was conscious at times and he contracted a second strain of pneumonia while in the hospital.
CLICK HERE for information on Mac’s public memorial or how you can make donations in his name.
[Image via Mavrix Online.]