Natasha Richardson reportedly taken off life support

[FourScore]

My prayers go out to her family. This is so sad...

UPDATE 2:15:
Liz Smith reports Natasha has been taken off life support at Lenox Hill Hospital

UPDATED 10 AM:
The only outlet to previously say Richardson's injuries were less severe, TMZ, has backtracked on that claim and now reports she is:

TMZ has obtained information about Natasha Richardson's ambulance ride in New York to Lenox Hill Hospital -- she was "unconscious," her pupils "non-reactive," her skin was "pale" and she was suffering from "major head trauma."


We're told her husband Liam Neeson held her hand the entire time and caressed her face as he sat in silence.

UPDATED 8:00 AM
In addition to Richardson's mother, her two sons, sister Joely and her niece have been photographed leaving New York's Lenox Hill hospital as the AP also reports family has gathered...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/17/natasha-richardson-brain_n_175764.html

[madaboutharry]

1. When tragedies like this occur, it

reminds us once again how fragile life is. Every day must be cherished.

Do I live by that rule, no. But I do try to.

[chrisa]

5. Agreed nt

[FourScore]

12. I've been thinking the same thing all day. n/t

[Obamanaut]

30. Some time back, when Miz O was in ICU and the outcome was not

certain, I stood by her and could not remember if I had told her that day I love her. She is fine now, and I don't have that worry any more because now it's many times a day.

It's true also that we often fail to tell folks what they mean to us, or give a kind word to someone (a child, a stranger on the street, a clerk in the store, etc) and we have just missed an opportunity. It can make their day, and yours, totally different.

[Bake]

31. In the midst of the daily grind, it's easy to forget that.

Thanks for the reminder!

:hi:

Bake

[monmouth]

2. Question: There is another marvelous actress in this family who appeared

on Masterpiece Theatre as a doctor in England of the 1800s. This actress is the daughter of one of the Redgraves and for the life of me cannot remember her name. Would she be Natasha's sister or cousin? This is so tragic.

[supernova]

14. I loved that show - Bramwell

and I can't remember the name of it, nor the actress either.

edit: I think her name is Jemma Redgrave.

edit2: It's Bramwell, the name of the series. She's a doctor in Edwardian England with no place to practice because women weren't supposed to work, let alone in the manly world of medicine. So, she opens a clinic in a poorer section of London, with her father's largesse.

[monmouth]

17. "Bramwell" and "Upstairs Downstairs" are my all time favs. I think

the two women may be cousins, they do look a lot alike.

[supernova]

21. They are first cousins

Jemma, Jolie, and Natasha.

I couldn't find out who Jemma's parents are though. Michael?

[monmouth]

25. Ah yes, Jemma could be Michael's daughter, or she uses her family name...n/t

[Lydia Leftcoast]

27. Jemma is the daughter of Corin Redgrave, Lynn and Vanessa's brother

Michael Redgrave was her grandfather.

[supernova]

29. Thanks, Lydia

I knew someone would know. :-)

[hlthe2b]

3. Sad... But some speculation/commentary are even worse:

i.e., I'll bet staff of the Lenox Hill hospital will love this comment from Liz Smith: (Geebus!)

Insiders felt yesterday, on learning they were flying Natasha in to Lenox Hill, that this meant her condition was hopeless and they were just finding a place to be together with her and to say good-bye. As one insider remarked:"Nobody goes to Lenox Hill who is really sick; if she’ d had a chance to live, they’d have found another great brain hospital!" This is all just utterly horrible to write!

http://www.wowowow.com/entertainment/liz-smith-natasha-richardson-life-support-lenox-hill-hospital-243237

[KamaAina]

24. I was wondering about that myself

Mom and Republican Stepdad (and Abe Vigoda's lady friend, on the same floor!) live a few blocks from Lenox Hill -- and a few in the other direction from a whole slew of more specialized hospitals, like New York Presbyterian (where Mom went for her bout with pneumonia several years ago). So why take someone so ill to what is basically the neighborhood community hospital for the Upper East Side?

[LaurenG]

4. "We're told her husband Liam Neeson held her hand the entire time and caressed her face as he sat

in silence." How heartbreaking for the family. :cry: My sincere condolences to the family.

[WildEyedLiberal]

6. As heartbreaking and loving as that is, it's a shame such private and tragic moments are now public

I'm sure he and the rest of her family would have appreciated being able to be with her in peace without 24/7 news updates and commentary. How truly, horribly sad this is.

[cali]

9. fame is not always easy, but it has huge benefits

that's simply the way it is.

[rvablue]

Especially this couple. They never really cultivated the limelight and for actors

led a very quiet life outside of the Hollywood red carpet scene.

I hope the reporters and photograpers will leave them alone. But, alas, I think that hope is in vain.

Such a quick and sad end to who seemed to be a very cool and very talented woman!

[JanMichael]

18. trade off

you get news fast now. Is it good or bad?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

22. Last night I read a LBN headline that Ms. Richardson...

had died.

Accurate news: Good.
Inaccurate news: Bad.
Inaccurate, fast news: Really, really bad.

[rvablue]

19. Especially this couple. They never really cultivated the limelight and for actors

led a very quiet life outside of the Hollywood red carpet scene.

I hope the reporters and photograpers will leave them alone. But, alas, I think that hope is in vain.

Such a quick and sad end to who seemed to be a very cool and very talented woman!

[JanMichael]

20. posted twice

not sure what's going on here

[JSK]

10. DId you see "Love Actually?"

Liam Neeson was heart wrenching as a grieving widower. I keep thinking of him in that roll. Very sad.

[LaurenG]

11. Yes I did and me too.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

23. I've thought of Love, Actually several times today. Neeson wasn't that heart wrenching

in that movie when he was obviously attracted (and acted on it) to another woman 6 weeks after his wife's death. That was the only blot on that movie for me.

[renate]

26. I've been thinking about that, too

:cry: I hope he and their boys will be okay.

[cali]

7. terribly sad outcome.

Condolences to her family- and particularly to her two young sons.

[cynatnite]

8. This is just tragic for any family suffering this. My heart goes out to them. n/t

[chatnoir]

13. My heart goes out to her husband

They were obviously so in love for so long. I can't imagine what he is going through... :cry:

[supernova]

15. My heart goes out to her family

they all seem like really lovely people, besides being so talented.

[TBF]

16. Terribly sad, my thoughts are with her family. n/t

[Born_A_Truman]

28. BREAKING NEWS: Spokesman for family of actress Natasha Richardson says she has died

MSNBC.com headline. No link yet.

This is so sad.

[lilyreally]

32. Last eve Joan Rivers was on Larry King

in the guise of a "good friend", reporting some details of what had happened at the hospital. I think the family would be appalled to hear of this breach of privacy. What a horrible woman. Had to turn it off.