Oscar-winner Tatum O’Neal suffered a massive drug-related stroke during the height of the pandemic, and she’s now sharing her uphill battles to relearn basic functions.
Her son Kevin McEnroe said that news about her coma and stroke was “the phone call we’d always been waiting for.” Via an exclusive in People:
Over the next two years, under medical supervision, and with regular therapy , she has fought to regain her full memory, an ongoing process.
And while her vocabulary keeps getting better, there’s still a ways to go. As Kevin says, “Emotionally the things that made my mom want to take drugs in the first place, those things are still very present.”
In addition to her daily therapy, O’Neal attends twelve step meetings (often via Zoom) and is working on her recovery, all under the care of her physician.
O’Neal became the youngest Oscar-winning actor ever in 1974 for her role in Paper Moon:
She starred in the film with her father, Ryan O’Neal.
Their relationship was one of many tumultuous relationships in her life, which included a volatile marriage to tennis legend John McEnroe.
It’s great that she is getting support and feeling strong enough to share her progress! If you or someone you know is struggling with drug use, SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you.
Image: PacificCoastNews / Avalon (2018)
