Nichelle Nichols Health Issue

[Refuge]

I hope she is kept safe.

Have mixed feelings about getting inside the head of any human being let alone a loved one with say, dementia. Have to admire care givers, especially those within the family. My Dad has Parkinson's, lives in another country, can barely talk now. I don't imagine seeing him again.

Anyway, thoughts to Nichelle.

 

[Doc Mugatu]

I just saw this from TMZ this morning.

My heartfelt prayers go out to her and her son. My sister also has a diagnosis of dementia. It is an emotionally hard row to hoe. Can be most dispiriting at times. Add on top of that her son having to defend her against those who would take advantage of her. I really hope he has a good support system. God bless them both. Amen.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

I watched my mother's marbles drain away, one at a time, over several years. When she finally died, it was a relief. Personally, I'd much rather have my head blown off than spend several years having my marbles drain away.

 

[Maurice]

My mother also suffered from dementia. I'd wish it on no one. Miss Nichols and her family have my sympathies.

 

[librarytrekker78]

I am stunned... shaken to my core especially after the recent loss of my grandmother who was also suffering from dementia and aftereffects of a severe stroke years ago. My heart goes out to her son and the rest of her family. So sad.

 

[Shawnster]

https://comicbook.com/startrek/2018...-nichols-dementia-claims-son-conservatorship/

It was previously reported that Nichols has been diagnosed with dementia, but an individual describing herself as a friend of the actress has challenged that notion, accusing Nichols’ son, Kyle Johnson, of trying to exert undue control over his 85-year-old mother.

According to TMZ, Angelique Fawcette has filed legal documents claiming that Nichols wrote a note to her son in March 2017 informing him that she wants to amend her will after he told Nichols, “I can't wait to get rid of this sh*t and sell [your] house and property."

Fawcette also claims that the dementia diagnosis is illegitimate because the doctor who examined Nichols, Dr. Meena Makhijani, is not a trained psychiatrist and lacks the necessary qualifications to make such a diagnosis.

Fawcette goes on to say in the legal documents that she has observed Nichols regularly performing daily tasks without assistance, and claims that the most help Nichols has ever needed is an occasional reminder that a bill is due.

 

[alensatemybuick1]

I read that Fawcette woman's account. To quote the title of the puppetry / parody film she co-produced (is still co-producing?!) in which Nichols and other Trek alums appear, I find her story to be rather..."Unbelievable".

The whole matter just adds insult to injury. Wherever the truth lies, I hope Ms. Nichols gets some good care, from someone who won't take advantage of her situation.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Hmm. The plot thickens. Somebody is apparently trying to do to Ms. Nichols what Erin Fleming did to Groucho, in his declining years.

What remains to be seen is, who?

 

[Maurice]

Can't speak to the particulars of this, but I've watched how awful family members can become when $$$ is involved.

 

[picardjean-luc]

Hmm. The plot thickens. Somebody is apparently trying to do to Ms. Nichols what Erin Fleming did to Groucho, in his declining years.

Or what this guy did to Marvel Comics founder Stan Lee,

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44479535

In any case, I wish Nichelle (the original Uhura) well.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

I remember hearing about Stan Lee.

But Groucho comes more readily to mind, because I've spent more time watching Marx Bros. movies than reading Stan Lee comics (I followed the Spider-Man newspaper strip for maybe a year or two).

At any rate, though, idle speculation about Ms. Nichols isn't going to help her. If she is indeed slipping into dementia, she needs medical help; if not, then she probably needs legal help. Either way, all the help she can get.

 

[Shawnster]

My wife's grandmother will b 97 in October. She can no longer live by herself, nor be left alone due to being a fall risk. Other than that, she is fine and healthy. However, short-term memory loss is noticeable at times. We'll have the same inconsequential conversations on a weekly or monthly basis. We had tacos last Saturday and she did not remember my wife fixing her tacos just a couple of months ago. My wife stayed all night with her Saturday night and I went home to be with the dog and came back the next morning. Wife's grandmother thought I was there all night despite me telling everyone goodbye when I left.

Yet she remember's her great-grandson's upcoming wedding just fine. Or that the reason my wife and I were "visiting" her was because my In-Laws went away for his high school reunion out of state.

So she doesn't suffer from Alzheimer's, but there is regular memory loss. I can see how that could be easily manipulated by someone to make it look like an elderly individual has Alzheimer's.

 

[Phaser Two]

So there are two sides to Nichelle's really sad story. I hope the courts can get her help.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Amen to that. So long as it's THE RIGHT KIND of help.

Referring back to my mother's demise: A few weeks before the end, my dad and I arranged to surprise my mother with a visit from her lifelong (since elementary school!) best friend. Seeing her reaction when that friend showed up, and seeing her regain some of her marbles, even for just a short time, is probably the only pleasant memory I have of what could be called "the continuing death of my mother."
Sadly, it wasn't very long after my mother died that the best friend died (although not even remotely as quick as it was with Debbie Reynolds following Carrie Fisher). But at least my mother and her best friend are together, in a realm beyond what a character from Carrie's franchise called "this crude matter."

 

[Peach Wookiee]

I watched my mother slip away from something like dementia, caused by the white matter in her brain losing connection. My dad and I did the best we could in caring for her.
I hope that all parties do what's best for Nichelle Nichols.

 

[Shaka Zulu]

I lost my mother to Altzheimer's back in 2012 after seeing her lose it gradually from 2003 onwards (my dad, who was seperated from her, figured it out before I and my siblings did before his death.) It was hard for me to deal with and sad to see as well.

With regards to the subject of this discussion, I personally think that it's time to have her retire from conventions like France Nuyen is doing, and just enjoy the rest of her life.