Little House on the Prairie star Hersha Parady has died, aged 78.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the actress’s son Jonathan Peverall confirmed that Parady died on Wednesday at his home in Norfolk, Virginia.
Prior to her death Peverall had made efforts to raise money for his mother who was diagnosed with a brain tumour known as meningioma – a common type of tumour that forms in the head.
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Peverall’s GoFundMe campaign aimed to support his mother who was facing growing medical expenses.
“This illness has robbed her of her strength, her memory, and sadly, her vibrant personality,” he wrote on the fundraising page at the time.
“She has become largely bedridden, and it is very difficult to see my Mum, who was once full of life and energy, now struggling with basic daily activities.”
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Peverall explained he had moved his mum into his hope to keep “working to ensure she gets the medical help she needs” but noted that “the costs associated with her care are mounting.”
“We’re looking at surgery to hopefully improve her condition, but the road to recovery is a long one, and the costs go beyond just medical,” he wrote.
“From moving expenses to in-home nursing care, to medical equipment and more, the financial burden is significant.”
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He continued: “And with a full time job and three kids, providing her with the level of care she needs is difficult. Rest assured, we are taking care of her to the best of our ability, and we will continue to do so, regardless of any contributions made here.”
Peverall concluded with a message of thanks, adding: “Let’s show Hersha that she isn’t alone in this fight and that her ‘Little House’ family is here for her, just as she was there for us on our screens.”
The most recent update on the page, dated August 1, saw Peverall inform fans of his mother’s “successful” surgery.
However, the star developed pneumonia while recovering and ended up in the intensive care unit at the hospital after which Parady was “unable to fully wake up”.
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An investigation into her condition was launched by the hospital’s medical team that Peverall had been following closely.
“We have been in constant communication with the doctors, gathering as much information as possible to make the best decisions for her care,” he said. “Despite these difficult times, we remain hopeful and ask that you do the same.”
Parady kicked off her career in theatre following her 1963 graduation from Berea High School, landing a role opposite Jon Voight in a production of A Streetcar Named Desire after making a trip to Los Angeles.
Before long, the actress hit the big screens, starring in an episode of Bearcats!
Her rise to fame however came along in 1977 when Parady featured in Little House on the Prairie‘s fourth season.
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The late actress played school teacher Alice Garvey alongside former NFL star Merlin Olsen, who played Alice’s husband Jonathan Garvey.
She became a fan favourite as she stayed for 35 more episodes until her tragic on screen death in season six, when her character died in a fire.
Other projects on the star’s acting portfolio included shows such as Kenan & Kel, The Phoenix and The Quest, and films like The Break and The Babysitter’s Seduction.
Parady is survived by her son and her three grandchildren.