Since its been a while I thought I'd better check in and see how Estelle is, here's the e-mailed I recieved off Paul Chapdelaine - Estelle's carer:



I don't know if its me or what but he doesn't seem as possitive about Estelle as he was last time I guess it takes a lot out of you, it must be a hard job to do.

Damn. I agree that he seems a little less optimistic about things this time around but we all know that her illness will only get worse so I guess we can't expect the good news to continue. But still, it's good to have something and it sounds like Estelle is still fighting this thing so all we can really do is pray for her.

Thanks for taking the time to do that, Paul.

Thanks for posting that, Paul. He does sound more vague this time than usual. I get the impression, slightly, that he may have been in a rush when he wrote that, especially since he states that he's very busy. Let's hope that's all it was.

When I used to contact the guy who used to run her site before, he was always so open and helpful, sending me recent photos of Estelle with her sons or when Rue visited her. This was all just before the news came out that she was very poorly. Then from that time he was much more vague and eventually stopped contacting me at all I suppose he just didn't want everyone to know how bad things were getting.

I've split the topic and made it a new seperate one.

Sam

Thanks for sharing these recent news, Paul. It's true that he was kinda vague about Estelle, but maybe, as Sam put it out, that he was just a bit busy and didn't really have the time to write in depth? I guess she won't really feel better, but the main thing is that she's still fighting it. Thanks again for the updates.

I agree with all of you. He does seem to be rather vague but he was most probably in a rush or something. It must take a lot out of him. Everytime I think of the girls reunions like the season 3 signings, I always feel really upset that Estelle isn't with them, you know the whole gang unfortunately can't be together. Like Stephen said though, all we can do though is pray and hope.

Of course her health is important, but I agree with Sam. He probably just dropped the note while answering Estelle's mail (and I'm sure she still gets regular correspondance).

Thanks for checking in though, Paul. Very considerate of you...

Well, my take is she hasn't gotten any worse, but hasn't gotten better. It does also seem that he was in a bit of a rush replying. Let's just all hope for the best. That's all I can really say right now...

It's so depressing. When I saw Bea Arthur breaking apart on ET about her illness that's when it really hit me, it was so upsetting.

It's such a shame that Estelle is suffering this way. She brought such entertainment to so many millions of people in her life, and this is how she is rewarded. What breaks my heart is that she no longer remembers the show or the Girls. I think that is the worst part.

God, it's awful, isn't it? On The Golden Girls, The Golden Palace, and I'm sure, Empty Nest, she just had that element that made her presence so significant to the scene. Ironic that a 4ft 11in New Yorker could have such an impact. But not remembering such a huge part of her life is heartbreaking and I can only pray that I, nor anybody I love end up in her condition.

In my opinion, Estelle stole the show. Every scene she was in, she was on top form. Yes, Bea, Betty and Rue were fantastic actresses but they had had years of television experience. Estelle came in as a newcomer and held her own against the cream of the industry. That's what a true professional is.

And that's why she is our favourite Golden Girl. And she won an Emmy after only being in the business for basically a couple of years? Amazing.

it's really upsetting about how Estelle is suffering. She brought the world so much joy and laughter and now she doesn't even have recollection of it. The saddest part is that now she actually is Sophia's age, but she's now actually being like her television counterpart.

I agree with you there, Rob. Estelle was such a large personality on the show and it wouldn't have been the same if she'd have been a recurring character.
I was watching Estelle's Intimate Portrait the other night (bought the dvd) and it left me with tears in my eyes. Estelle held down 2 jobs and a family and at that time a wife holding down one job wasn't the done thing.

She had a dream and goals and put them kind of put them second place to do what was expected - raise a family. I have the utmost respect for Estelle for not giving into peer and pressure around her to leave her dreams and do what was expected of her. She didn't do it, she done both - and by all accounts was a fantastic mother...with what sseemed like endless energy!

Going back to Estelle's I.P, it struck me as really sad when they mentioned how Estelle never really got to enjoy for full, the fame she had gained and everybody's love for her because not long after Golden Girls and Golden Palace her illness started to take its hold...so sad.

I've Wiki'ed Estelle's condition again, although its not the same page I found last time, <click here>

The unfortunate thing about Dementia is that there is no cure - those who suffer from it unfortunately can't get better. The best thing is to keep them confortable and safe. I think one of the worst thing about that illness is their feeling disoriented...lost. That sounds like a really scary thing to go through.

It's ironic that Estelle is now Sophia's age, but she unfortunately doesn't have the health that Sophia did. I know I'm comparing her to the fictional character of course...but it's a sad irony.

She did steal the show more times than not - I totally agree with that. Even though she was feisty and direct, she was still lovable and hilarious.

On the plus side, Estelle has had a wonderful conclusion to her life by scoring that part on The Golden Girls. After years of performing in theatre and an acclaimed run in Torch Song Trilogy, what better way to cap one's life-long work than to star, and shine, in a popular sitcom, which is still as popular now as it was 20 years ago.

I had watched The Golden Girls during its initial run between 1985 and 1992, and it's so amazing to me to see all these younger people discovering and loving this show. I was a teenager at the time and it was very "uncool" for a teen to like that show, but now it's huge with the really young, and especially the college crowd, apparently.

Anyway, I'm rambling....

Estelle, I hope you're comfortable and well, you lovable golden girl you!

Norm

Paul, thanks for the update. Missed seeing her in the special feature on season 7. I hope she is doing as well as can be expected, and that the email was one sent in haste, not due to deliberate vagueness.

No problem Ian. Oh and can I clarify to everyone as I feel like I've come across as really insensititve, I didn't mean it as Paul didn't care about Estelle etc. I was just quite taken aback by the hurried tone really.
He's busy with his own proects on top of his care work