As a follower of Shannen Doherty’s public journey with breast cancer, I have been deeply moved by the account of her final moments shared by her trusted friend and doctor, Dr. Lawrence D. Piro. The image of Shannen, surrounded by loved ones and her beloved dog Bowie, in the last hours of her life, is a poignant reminder of the fragility and beauty of life.
In the final moments before her passing, Shannen Doherty’s doctor and confidant shared that she wasn’t yet prepared to depart from this world, having “not been quite ready to go” according to their account.
Dr. Lawrence D. Piro, an oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and a frequent television and film presence, became a trusted confidant and eventually close friend to the late actress during her fight against Stage 4 breast cancer. He often attended her lively dinner gatherings, as shared by People. Dr. Piro was among those who stayed by her side when she passed away on Saturday at the age of 53, following almost a decade-long battle with cancer.
“Piro continued the journey until it became unbearable for us. During our last talk, she acknowledged that things had worsened considerably. Our discussion revolved around love, encouragement, and perseverance, with her expressing her intent to carry on with treatment despite her deteriorating health condition.”
Piro explained that Doherty’s health situation had restricted her options significantly during the past few weeks, without delving into details due to confidentiality reasons. However, he emphasized that she remained committed and engaged in her treatment plan, making the best of the limited possibilities available to her. He admired her resilience and called her an inspiring fighter.
In 2015, the tenacious actress went public with her diagnosis, disclosing in a legal action against her previous management company that her health insurance expired in 2014. This unfortunate event impeded her from receiving prompt medical care. Since then, she has openly shared her journey, including her diagnosis, remission, and subsequent relapses. Last summer, she revealed that the cancer had progressed to her brain, and later in November, to her bones.
Over the past few hours, she found herself in a soothing environment, surrounded by her dearest friends and her cherished dog Bowie, as shared by Piro. The atmosphere was quiet and tranquil, with this select group of friends tending to her with great care and compassion. Although tinged with sadness, the scene was also filled with love and beauty.
“The hardest thing about this was that she wasn’t ready to leave because she loved life.”
Piro shared on various shows including “Let’s Be Clear,” “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” “The Doctors,” and “This Is Farrah Fawcett,” that the actor’s zest for living and longing for more life were what gave her strength. However, it was extremely agonizing for her not to be able to fulfill this desire.
In the past few weeks, Doherty’s struggle for life became more intense. At the same time, she was going through the final stages of a divisive divorce process with her ex-husband Kurt Iswarienko. They had separated in January 2023 and officially parted ways in April 2023 after eleven years of marriage. The day before she passed away, Doherty signed the divorce agreement, relinquishing any claim to spousal support for both parties, as stated in a court judgment filed on Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Iswarienko also signed the settlement on the day she died, according to the judgment.
Piro mentioned that the emotional strain of the divorce didn’t seem to significantly impact her determination on the medical front for him. But, he admitted, it added an extra layer of difficulty.
However, he hoped that the actor’s legacy would be one of treating others with kindness.
He expressed his profound affection for living, nurtured by a deep appreciation for people and the desire to be respected. This may have stemmed from spending a significant portion of his life under public scrutiny and often facing miscomprehension.
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2024-07-18 19:14