Erin Moran Relied on a Feeding Tube to Stay Alive During Final Days Battling Stage 4 Cancer

[Ken Burch]

Source: MSN

Happy Days' Erin Moran was fed through a GI tube at home with her mother-in-law, according to the coroner's examination

Moran was receiving treatment for Stage 4 cancer, including a gastrointestinal tube in her throat to keep her alive during her final days, a law enforcement source tells PEOPLE.
The source, who asked to remain anonymous pending further details to be released by the Harrison County Sheriff's Dept., said the coroner found a gastrointestinal tube during the examination, as well as "ample" evidence that the actress succumbed to Stage 4 cancer. The type of cancer was not immediately clear.


"It was indicative when they did the autopsy that she was receiving medical care," the source tells PEOPLE. "There were no illicit substances or anything to suggest foul play."

Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/celebrity/happy-days-erin-moran-relied-on-a-feeding-tube-to-stay-alive-during-final-days-battling-stage-4-cancer-source/ar-BBAh7Ez?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartanntp

---

So, the "stupid junkie, she dug her own grave" narrative was vicious, ignorant bullshit.

Erin Moran died clean.

Of cancer.

[madokie]

1. Now I really do

feel for her. A couple days ago I thought, from reading some posts here, that she was nothing but a person who was gaming the system to get the drugs some of us need to survive. In the process driving nails in our coffins. I'm happy to see that none of what I had previously read, here and elsewhere, was true.

May Peace be with You KB for straightening this out for me.

[hrmjustin]

2. I do not want a feeding tube at the end of my life.

I am my parents and they made clear no feeding tube and no breathing tubes.

[ghostsinthemachine]

15. Thats. Crazy. Man

I have a feeding tube and no problems. I see my grandkids, go to shows, do pretty much everything, except eat large meals, that I did before. And a breathing tube? Youll have one when you get operated on, no doubt.

You really need to talk to someone who knows what is what instead of making blanket statements.

[hrmjustin]

19. I am very happy that the feeding tube help you.

[Luz]

20. I understand they meant end of life, but thank goodness

for my hubbys trach or he'd be dead now instead of out walking the dog.

[Ken Burch]

46. Fair point.

May he be in as good a health as is possible now.

[GliderGuider]

30. My wife has just been diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian. There is no feeding tube in her future

She is already getting her paperwork in order - no surgery, no chemo, no resuscitation, no intubation, no curative treatments of any kind. Only palliative pain management.

We each have our own way of dealing with the end of life, and our own reasons for doing what we do. People who throw stones are throwing them at their own Shadow.

[itcfish]

33. I am so sorry

I hope she will have some treatment, miracles do happen. God be with her.

[GliderGuider]

38. She doesn't want treatment.

She wants to die.

I know that probably sound harsh to most peoples' ears, but you'd have to know the rest of her situation to understand her determination.

There are many ways to approach death, and each of them is deeply personal. She is doing so with her eyes wide open, embracing it as only a fully self-realized person can.

As her loving and compassionate soul-mate, I fully support her wishes.

[itcfish]

42. Whatever Gives Her Peace

God bless her and you!

[hamsterjill]

35. My aunt passed away in 2014.

My aunt was diagnosed with lung cancer in early 2014. She had one chemo treatment and decided she did not want to continue. She died in December, 2014.

She had lost three sons to a genetic disease, and her husband has pre-deceased her. She was ready to go. And although I selfishly wanted more time with her, I completely and utterly supported her in her decision.

It is INDEED an individual choice in dealing with the end of life.

[GliderGuider]

39. Here's a bit of background on my wife

Her only family is her 94 yo mother, who lives alone, 400 miles away, in the final throes of Alzheimer's. The rest of her family were killed in the Holocaust. My wife's body has been a life-long wreck, probably due to the epigenetic aftershocks of her mother's time in Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. We have no children.

We have realized our life dream, re-uniting after a thirty-year separation and spending our final seven years together as one soul. She has worked hard for two decades to become self-realized, and IMO she has succeeded.

She sees her diagnosis as a Get Out of Jail Free card.

[Skittles]

41. wishing you and Mrs. GG the best

[mr_lebowski]

57. Simultaneously horrible ... and beautiful ... altogether very touching, and thanks for sharing ...

Puts a lot of things in perspective for me at the moment.

Godspeed to your valiant wife, and you ...

[Ken Burch]

47. I am so sorry.

Cancer is a total bastard of a disease.

I think you two have everyone's support here for whatever choices you make.

[GliderGuider]

49. Thank you.

It's quite an adventure. I guess my concern when I talk about it on an open forum is that my wife's response to it is so different from the social norm. I don't want to sugar-coat her attitude of conscious acceptance with fake grief and a sense of tragedy, but I worry that we're going to come across cold as a result. We're anything but.

I'm sure the landscape is going to change many times in the coming months. Thanks for your support.

[lunasun]

53. Her response is not that unusual to me as I have known more than one person , who made a

similiar choice. None came across as cold , or those around them just well thought out or intuitive sense that the time is here and now to leave .
Sometimes better to go on your own terms and if she has achieved self realization it may be her awakened consciousness and its freedom that allows her to accept this choice as liberating but there will be others who can not see it.
I understand that societies impose a norm. So I understand your hesitance, just know it's not really that abnormal of a path either.

[GliderGuider]

55. Thanks. I know the choice not to prolong life medically is becoming more widespread

As the hospice/palliative possibilities grow more people are being given the opportunity to value their perception of quality at end-of-life against straight time.

[leftynyc]

3. Glad I missed those threads

May she rest in peace and may her memory be a blessing.

[Ken Burch]

5. It wasn't so much DU saying that as people all over the damn web.

Should've waited until we heard.

[cstanleytech]

50. People of all walks of life are always probably going to jump to conclusions before hearing

the details its just human nature and I doubt that will change any time soon if ever.
I personally assumed stroke or heart attack when I read the news not because of any past drug or alcohol use on her part but because of her age and cancer didnt even occur to me.

[Ken Burch]

51. Reasonable assumptions.

In the last pictures they published, she looked worn down, older than her years.

[Gothmog]

4. May she rest in peace

Her last days involved a great deal of suffering and I feel for her and wish the best

[Lucinda]

6. KNR

[SoCalMusicLover]

7. Conservative Prick Scott Baio Didn't Wait To Bash Her

He essentially blamed her for her death, saying it was the effects of years of drinking and drugs which caused it.

You can ALWAYS count on the Conservative A&*HOLE to be the only person to attack the dead person. You won't find Ron Howard or Henry Winkler jumping to conclusions less than 48 hours after Erin's death.

[Lithos]

24. What an ass

She may have died of complications from alcohol/drugs/smoking, but I can almost guarantee you these were done as attempts to self-medicate her self-admitted depression. Ie, she died from complications resulting from depression and a$$holes like Scott Baio would gleefully deny people access to treatment and continue to stigmatize people who do find a route to proper treatment.

L-

[Ken Burch]

56. depression, insecurity, self-esteem issues.

All to be expected.

[itcfish]

34. Didn't Baio's wife

have brain cancer? You would think he would be a bit more sympathetic.

[hlthe2b]

8. In this context, Winkler's sad tweet makes even more sense...

Gets even sadder... May you be at peace, Erin.

[Hekate]

9. TY for setting the record straight. May she RIP. I'm grateful to have missed those posts. nt

[Ken Burch]

31. I wasn't saying much of that was said here.

It was more a reference to the rush to judgment out there in Greater Cyberslavia.

[LeftInTX]

10. I found more details:

She was diagnosed with throat cancer around Thanksgiving
She was receiving chemo and radiation
Sounds like the chemo and radiation weren't going very well

http://pagesix.com/2017/04/24/happy-days-star-erin-moran-died-of-cancer/

[SunSeeker]

11. Heartbreaking.

[Boomerproud]

12. Thank you for this post.

So tragic. My only hope is that she wasn't alone. If what Scott Baio said that was posted above is true-go to hell.

[ghostsinthemachine]

13. I have a feeding tube, and cancer (stage 3)

And mine goes in my stomach. Esophageal cancer usually, as in my case. After my operation (esophectomy) May 12th, I will have another feeding tube, but this time into my intestine. I doubt hers was in her throat.

Its not so bad taking food this way. Boring yes, but not so bad. My tumor has shrunk enough to allow.me to eat some things, so thats good, but only a recent development.

[murielm99]

14. My heart and prayers go out to you.

I hope you continue to improve and do not have too much pain. This must be scary, to say the least.

[ghostsinthemachine]

16. Beyond scary...diagnosed December 12

But I knew since early October when I could not get food to pass. It was tough getting to diagnosis.

Thanks for your concern.

[whathehell]

17. I'm wishing the best for you, ghostsinthemachine..

[deurbano]

23. Congrats on the shrinking of the tumor!

My daughter had to have a stomach feeding tube (PEG) during treatment for/recovery from lymphoma. A tumor was crushing her esophagus, and that caused a lot of coughing (initially misdiagnosed as allergies!), and eventually led to aspiration while eating.

The chemo effectively shrank the tumor, and she is now past the three-year mark from the last chemo.

I wish you the same good outcome! And very best wishes for an uneventful and highly successful surgery on the 12th!

[irisblue]

25. The best for you ghost

[Different Drummer]

18. Thank you for sharing this and setting the record straight.

The rush to judgment that people tend toward in situations like this always bothers me.

[Skittles]

21. did someone here actually say she dug her own grave?

or were they just sad that she has long battled so many demons?

my condolences to her friends and loved ones

[Ken Burch]

27. It wasn't a reference to THIS board as much to the cyberworld in general.

n/t.

[Skittles]

32. thank you, and, agreed

I saw sympathy for her here - out there, not so much, including from that conservative asshole Scott Baio.

[niyad]

37. apparently a reference to a scott baio tweet

[Skittles]

40. he is conservative piece of SHIT

he said you "try" and then you "let them go" - see, that's the difference between you and me, asshole - I NEVER STOP TRYING with my loved ones / friends

[niyad]

43. I keep trying to ignore him, but he won't go away!!

[PatrickforO]

22. The problem with the junkie...dug own grave meme is that

it is a corporate propaganda effort designed to promote more tax dollars going to defense contracts, and more corporate tax cuts as opposed to using those tax dollars WE pay in for programs that actually help us.

In addition, we do not have single payer, and so are barbaric. Moran probably couldn't afford proper treatment, and could not afford the meds she needed and so likely died in hellish pain.

But, hey, some big pharma bean counter out there is smugly satisfied at this quarter's profits...

[ghostsinthemachine]

28. I remember Jerry Garcia's passing and that was the meme

But he died, not from heroin, but Hagen Das and Camel unfiltered's. Digging your own grave all the same, but nobody mentioned that.

We all dig our own graves really. My cancer was probably caused by smoking and drinking in my past. Studies shoow a higher incidence anyway.

[shenmue]

26. Peace

[SoCalMusicLover]

29. So It Was An All-American Legal Drug That Killed Her

If she had throat cancer, sorry Scott....it may have been Cigarettes that killed her, not alcohol & drugs.

But we must not hurt the tobacco farmers, by talking about an elephant in the room where it comes to something like throat cancer. She was a lifelong smoker, and perhaps it should serve as a reminder about the danger of a life spent smoking tobacco.

[itcfish]

44. My daughter-in-law's

Father has throat cancer, never smoked, rarely drank. He is 56 years old. He is going through terrible cancer treatment now. I hope he gets cured. Sometimes these things happen through no fault of your own.

[hamsterjill]

36. It serves no purpose to bash the dead.

They can no longer defend themselves. May "Joanie" rest in peace with my thanks for the laughs and entertainment that she brought to my household with her acting talents.

[WoonTars]

45. Makes me despise Scott Biaio even more. .

...what an asshole...

[Ken Burch]

48. I think the guy only commented on this because he's desperate for attention.

And then he played the "people are only mad because I'm a Trump supporter" card, because he sees HIMSELF as the victim here.

I think we can now use "Baio" as a euphemism for "douchebag"-as in "that dude's a total Baio",

[oberliner]

58. Not so

People asked him about it, obviously.

[Ken Burch]

60. He could still just have said "I'm sorry to hear she's gone", or if he couldn't just say that

said "no comment" and walk away.

[oberliner]

61. True

But he was specifically asked about her history of drug and alcohol use.

I guess my point is that the people asking the questions (and the way they asked them) also benefited from coaxing Baio to say something like this and then milking it for hits.

[CentralMass]

52. :-(

[lunasun]

54. Do not speak ill of the dead

The Latin phrases De mortuis nihil nisi bonum ("Of the dead, nothing unless good&quot and De mortuis nil nisi bene [dicendum] ("Of the dead, nothing [spoken] unless [truthfully]&quot indicate that it is socially inappropriate to speak ill of the dead.

[Sunlei]

59. local Gov.stamp of approval-Erin Moran suffered as slow a 'death' as possible :( :(