Anne Heche Suffered A Severe Brain Injury And Is Not Expected To Survive (UPDATE)
UPDATE: Anne Heche’s rep tells TMZ that although life support machines are keeping her heart beating so that doctors can preserve her organs for donation, she is “brain dead” and that is considered death under California law.
Shortly after Anne Heche crashed her Mini Cooper Clubman into a parking garage before hitting a house in a fiery crash, her ex Thomas Jane and sources said that she would pull through but had a long road to recovery ahead of her. But then Anne’s rep gave a very bleak update by saying that she lost consciousness shortly after the double crash and was still in a coma. And last night, her rep delivered even more horrible news by saying that she suffered an anoxic brain injury and will mostly like not survive.
Last Friday, Anne’s morning started with a visit to a hair salon and ended with her speeding down a street and hitting the curb before crashing into a house in the Mar Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles. Thankfully, Lynne Mishele, the woman who was renting and living in the home, was able to get out with her two dogs and tortoise without injury. But Lynne lost all of her possessions and a GoFundMe was set up for her. Anne was trapped in her smoke-filled car for 30 minutes as firemen put out the fire and pulled her out. TMZ reported at the time that a bottle of vodka was found in her car and the police were investigating Anne for DUI and hit-and-run. TMZ later heard from police sources who told them that Anne’s blood was tested and she didn’t have alcohol in her system at the time of the crash but she did have cocaine and fentanyl. But Anne could have been given fentanyl at the hospital so more tests are being done to see if it was in her system at the time of the crash.
A few days ago, 53-year-old Anne’s rep told People that she suffered “a significant pulmonary injury requiring mechanical ventilation and burns that require surgical intervention.” But sadly, the surgery didn’t help Anne’s condition. The accident caused severe brain damage and Anne remains in a coma with no expectation of recovering. Since she always wanted to donate her organs, doctors are now seeing which, if any, are viable.
“Unfortunately, due to her accident, Anne suffered a severe anoxic brain injury and remains in a coma, in critical condition,” the rep says in a statement on behalf of Heche’s family.
“She is not expected to survive… It has long been her choice to donate her organs and she’s being kept on life support to determine if any are viable,” the rep tells PEOPLE.
Anne’s rep ended their statement by paying tribute to her:
“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.
Anne had a huge heart and touched everyone she met with her generous spirit,” says the rep on behalf of the family. “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.”
Just awful, especially for Anne’s sons, 20-year-old Homer Laffoon, and 13-year-old Atlas Heche Tupper.
Anne’s older brother, Nate Heche, died in a car accident at 18. And for most of her life, Anne suffered from mental illness due to her traumatic childhood. This is a tragedy for everyone involved and a very sad ending.
Pic: Lionel Hahn/Abacausa/INSTARimages.com