Her guest performance earlier in the show's run impressed producers so much that they chose her to replace Dann Florek as the detective squad chief. Natalee was a resident of Mountain Brook, Alabama who was seen alive on or about May 30, 2005 in the company of van der Sloot on the day of her disappearance. And the show has cast an actress with extensive experience in a legal drama to occupy the role as a series regular: The Practice alum Camryn Manheim. Van Buren was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting as she didn't intentionally kill the young man, but it continued to haunt her. Heres how it works. She had interestingly already decided to leave the show before its 2010 cancellation, and her character may not even be alive right now. She's also great in the interrogation room. She appeared in 391 episodes of the seriesmore than any other cast member. Laura turned a lifelong love of television into a valid reason to write and think about TV on a daily basis. S. Epatha Merkerson came on as a series regular on "Law & Order" in 1993 and stayed in her role as Lieutenant Anita Van Burenuntil the show was abruptly canceled in 2010. I'm Black, I'm female and I'm in my 50s. Merkerson's other stage credits have included "The Old Settler," "F**king A," "While I Yet Live," and "Come Back, Little Sheba," for which she earned her second Tony nomination. Alive . Actor She started in Season 4 and carried all the way through to the initial final season in 2010. She was affectionately addressed by two shortened versions of her rank: earlier on, many of her detectives, including Ed Green, Lennie Briscoe and Rey Curtis, called her "Lieu"; Dets. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. The 2-7 got its new boss in Lieutenant Anita Van Buren played by S. Epatha Merkerson. This is far from unprecedented, and not just because of S. Epatha Merkersons role as Van Buren followed by her role as Goodwin. He left SVU in 2013. In 2015 she began appearing as a main cast member of the "Chicago" series of shows (Fire, Med, P.D.). In the third season of the show, one of the most important additions to the show made his debut: Detective Lennie Briscoe. She also shared the screen with Dylan McDermott for seven seasons of The Practice, and McDermott has gone on to land a prime role in Law & Order: Organized Crime. Last Appearance As Alessandra Stanley wrote last week, the show's treatment of it was graceful but unblinking. Alive (retired) Full range WITHIN story & context while her time on the series still stayed in its bread & butter lane of plot focused stories week to week. She is well known for her 17-season run as Lt. Anita Van Buren on NBC's "Law & Order" (winning her three NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a drama).Her role in the HBO film "Lackawanna Blues" earned her an Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG Award, Gracie Allen Award, NAACP Image Award and IFP Spirit Award nominations. It is revealed in L&O: "Boy Gone Astray", that she has not been eating much since she began chemotherapy; her son tries to help by offering her some medical marijuana, which she initially rejects because it is a crime in New York and she is a sworn police officer. However, a sudden twist helped law enforcement officials to catch the perpetrator. Camryn Manheim has joined the cast of Law & Order Season 21 to play a character by the name of Lt. Kate Dixon, according to Deadline, which reports that Dixon will function as a successor to Lt. Van Buren. She gave one of her most acclaimed performances in 2005, starring as boarding house lady Rachel "Nanny" Crosby in the HBO television film "Lackawanna Blues," based on the eponymous play. Robinette was replaced with Assistant District Attorney Claire Kincaid, played by Jill Hennessy. Merkerson received a Tony Award nomination for her work. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Before Ice-T started his 18th season on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," Van Buren had also beenTV's longest-running Black character in primetime. It was quite a tragic end for her, and fans were sad to see her character suffer. The couple did not have any children together. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. She also helped to put away the other robber for the young man's death with the help of the mother of the kid she killed. Status Ben Stone the lead district attorney left the show and was replaced with Sam Waterston. Up until then, there werent very many or really any full-time female actresses in Law & Order. From 1994 until their divorce in 2006, Merkerson was married to Toussaint Jones Jr. Browse 299 anita van buren stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. FirstTacoInSpace 10 mo. While there's no word yet on who from the original cast will be returning, avid viewers are hoping thatSam Waterson will be reprising his role as DA Jack McCoy. (SVU: "Poisoned Motive"), Senior Detectives: Max Greevey Phil Cerreta Lennie Briscoe Joe Fontana Ed Green Cyrus Lupo Kevin Bernard Frank Cosgrove, Junior Detectives: Mike Logan Rey Curtis Ed Green Nick Falco Nina Cassady Cyrus Lupo Kevin Bernard Frank Cosgrove Jalen Shaw, Commanding Officers: Captain Donald Cragen Lieutenant Anita Van Buren Lieutenant Kate Dixon, Executive Assistant District Attorneys: Benjamin Stone Jack McCoy Michael Cutter Nolan Price, Assistant District Attorneys: Paul Robinette Claire Kincaid Jamie Ross Abbie Carmichael Serena Southerlyn Alexandra Borgia Connie Rubirosa Samantha Maroun, District Attorneys: Adam Schiff Nora Lewin Arthur Branch Jack McCoy, Van Buren is the longest-lasting main character of the original, Van Buren was also one of the first female main characters on the show, along with. Movies. She finishes it for him. Anita Van Buren succeeded Captain Don Cragen as commander of the 27th Precinct Detective Squad after Cragen transferd to the Anti-Corruption Task Force. Merkerson has made guest appearances on "Deception," "The Cosby Show," "Frasier," "The Closer" and "Being Mary Jane." Sharon Epatha Merkerson was born on November 28, 1952 in Saginaw, Michigan and grew up in Detroit. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2a8bd71e372f20 At the party where she appeared to get the good news, she also announced her engagement to her boyfriend Frank Gibson and received donations from all of her friends to help pay for Van Buren's treatment. Dann Florek, who played Captain Donald Cragen, who led the fictitious NYPDs 27th Precinct, and Richard Brooks played Assistant District Attorney Paul Robinette were released so the show could add women into the cast. At a party, Van Buren introduces Gibson to the squad before Van Buren announced to the squad that she was getting engaged to Frank. So I said, Lets get everybody back and loop the scene so that everybody whispers. And it worked.. First Appearance Despite the show finding its footing in season 5 and later, it was still two unexpected firings. For many years Merkerson held the record for the longest-running African-American character on television. Read more about this topic: Anita Van Buren, The dialectic between change and continuity is a painful but deeply instructive one, in personal life as in the life of a people. Now that "Law & Order" has been renewed for Season 21, could Merkerson return to play Van Buren? "Merkerson is an accomplished actress who has won critical acclaim for her work in theater, television and film. "I've given it my best for 16 years. She later began chemotherapy (L&O: "Just a Girl in the World"). Other credits include "Radio," which garnered her a Cammie Award, "Black Snake Moan," "Terminator II: Judgment Day," "Random Hearts," "Navy SEALs," "Mother and Child," "The Six Wives of Henry Lefay" "Peeples" and "Lincoln. Van Buren relentlessly pursues a cocky suspect she believes was responsible for driving a friend's daughter to suicide, because he allegedly attacked her with drain cleaner. In "Slave," she gets off a perfect groin shot to subdue a dangerous perp. That's how Jill Hennessey and I ended up on the show because NBC was going to cancel it if he didn't bring skirts in. He spent time at Tulsa VA Hospital in Oklahoma (L&O: "Over Here"). We and our partners use cookies on this site to improve our service, perform analytics, personalize advertising, measure advertising performance, and remember website preferences. First Appearance You will receive a verification email shortly. On stage, Merkerson had her breakthrough in early 1987 in the one-woman play "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill," in which she played famous singer Billie Holiday. (L&O: "Memo From The Dark Side") She initially resists taking medical marijuana due to its illegality, but the Chief of Detectives gives her advice and help, revealing that he is a testicular cancer survivor and is willing to look the other way for Van Buren as long as she is discreet about it. Her father was wounded in Wasu, Korea during the Korea War in 1952. That record was overtaken by Ice T, who achieved the feat on "Law & Order: SVU." The revival of the original Law & Order is just a few months away, and star Anthony Anderson already confirmed that filming has begun. Dann Florek starred in the first 15 seasons of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as his original character. This is mine," the show's creator Dick Wolf told Deadlineabout "Law & Order" being renewed. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. No further details about Dixons character have been released at the time of writing, but S. Epatha Merkerson was a longtime member of the cast as Van Buren during its original run on NBC. ("I play it cool / I dig all jive / That's the reason / I stay alive"). One of the donations came from the head of a teacher's union that the police had clashed with during their case who brought with him donations from the Police Commissioner and the Mayor, stating that Van Buren had a lot of friends standing with her. With Dennis Farina, Jesse L. Martin, S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Waterston. We welcome all corrections and feedback using the button below. Name Ron Carver in setting up a sting operation to arrest another former acquaintance, Terry Randolph, for murder. This project received numerous awards, including the 2012 Best Documentary Award from the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival and San Diego Black Film Festival, the Dikalo Award from the Festival International du Film Panafricain (Cannes), the Teaneck International Film Festival's Jury Award, the Roxbury International Film Festival's Henry Hampton Award and the Paul Robeson Award for Best Documentary from the Newark Black Film Festival.A native of Detroit, Merkerson holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Wayne State University and three honorary doctorates.She lives in New York City. (L&O: "Rubber Room"). This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. Merkerson went on to play Lieutenant Anita Van Buren for 17 seasons of "Law & Order" through 2010, when the show ended. She appeared in 395 episodes of the franchise (including guest appearances in sister shows) between 1993 and 2010. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. However, it seems that a huge aspect of why Merkerson enjoyed her role, as revealed in a2009 panel interview at the Paley Centerback when "Law & Order" was still on the air, was that the showrunners allowed her to voice her opinion. There's no one who sits at our table who sits from my perspective,"Merkerson said. Merkerson was educated at Cooley High School, from which she graduated in 1970. Her role in the. Anita Van Buren (fiance) . She is well known for her 17-season run as Lt. Anita Van Buren on NBC's "Law & Order" (winning her three NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a drama). Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. The actress is currently starring on another Dick Wolf series, "Chicago Med," so it seems that anything is possible (via IMDb). However, in the final episode of the series, "Rubber Room", her health appears to have improved: she receives a call from her doctor, looks back at her colleagues and whispers "Thank youThank you" to herself. There's something going on there, too. (L&O: "Sweeps"). Merkerson began her television career in 1986 playing Reba the Mail Lady on the CBS Saturday morning show "Pee-wee's Playhouse." It's time to move on. Van Buren lost hair, conducted short telephone skirmishes with her insurance carrier and . NYPD ( L&O: "Sweeps") Contents 1 History 2 Officer-involved shootings 3 Trivia 4 Appearances History Most times, I lose but sometimes Iwin. (L&O: "Myth of Fingerprints"), In 2002, she assisted A.D.A. But her resulting actions could put the case in jeopardy. During her lengthy tenure as squad leader of the Two-Seven, she commanded various detectives; this included Lennie Briscoe, Mike Logan, Tony Profaci, Rey Curtis, Morris LaMotte, Sammy Kurtz, Ed Green, Reina Perez, Ana Cordova, Joe Fontana, Nick Falco, Nina Cassady, Cyrus Lupo, and Kevin Bernard. In a 2015 interview with "The Today Show"(via E! Thats why when fans were stunned when they turned on season 4 to find Captain Don Cragen and ADA Paul Robinette were gone. In the end, Russo went to jail for her misconduct. 210.65.88.143 "Rubber Room" In another fun twist, Kate Dixon for the Law & Order revival isnt Camryn Manheims only appearance in Wolf Entertainment to date. "There are very few things in life that are literally dreams come true. Like the other cops in her squad, she knows that her life is on the line every day, and her very survival can be at stake. Title Law & Order: What Happened to Don Cragen and Paul Robinette. Anyone who watched the original Law & Order knows the casts line-up was shaken up like a snow globe every few years. 2023 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved. (, She enjoys the poet Langston Hughesand she is left-handed. [] Name NBC press releases at the time of the character's departure mentioned that Robinette had moved to a Park Avenue law firm. In her final season, Van Buren was diagnosed with Stage II Cervical cancer. Your IP: Van Buren has been a cop for over 30 years. The squad then announced that they and several of her friends in an out of the NYPD have all put in donations for her to afford cancer treatment. Don Cragen (Dann Florek)after the show's fourth season to take on the role of leading the 27th Precinct Detective Squad. Appearing on Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s PBS genealogy television show "Finding Your Roots," Merkerson learned that she is a descendant of Isaac Hawkins and eight other enslaved people who were sold in the 1838 Jesuit slave sale. Camryn Manheim is credited with not just one, but three different characters on Law & Order prior to the news of her revival role as a series regular. Her sister lives in Queens (L&O : "Whiplash"). Merkerson landed her biggest role the next year when she joined "Law & Order" in its fourth season. In 1997, the Orlando Sentinel wanted to know why so many actors left the show seemingly so suddenly. Status "Merkerson has completed filming on three upcoming independent films: "The Challenger" with Michael Clark Duncan; "Sexual Healing," a biopic about Marvin Gaye with Jesse L. Martin; and "Year by the Sea," opposite Joan Allen.Her theater credits include the 2008 Broadway revival of "Come Back Little Sheba," (Tony nomination); August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson," (Tony, Drama Desk, Helen Hayes Award nominations); "Birdie Blue" and "I'm Not Stupid," (Obie Awards); "The Old Settler (Helen Hayes Award); "F*cking A" and "While I Yet Live" (Lucille Lortel nomination).On television, she was a series regular on "Pee-wee's Playhouse," "The Cosby Show" spin-off "Here and Now" and Dick Wolf's "Mann & Machine." What hadn't been business as usual throughout Season 20 was the battle with cancer fought by Lt. Anita Van Buren, the show's longest-tenured character. NY 10036. When provided, we also incorporate private tips and feedback received from the celebrities or their representatives. Her character replaced Capt. Played by Jerry Orbach, Briscoe added levity to the show and at times some serious sadness. She also valued how "integral" her role on the series was, both onscreen and off. Brooks Paul Robinette returned to Law & Order several times over the course of the shows 20 seasons. My very first job on television was on Law & Order, so it feels like Im coming home. The 2-7 got its new boss in Lieutenant Anita Van Buren played by S. Epatha Merkerson. And Van Buren remained in that position until the show's final episode during its 20th season. Law & Orders director and producers went back and forth on what they should do. Orbach, who tried to put Baby in the corner in Dirty Dancing, once said hed never leave Law & Order. S. Epatha Merkerson is an American actress who has a net worth of $12 million. S. Epatha Merkerson says portraying Anita Van Buren gave her a voice. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Later in the episode, it is revealed that she decided to try the potential remedy, as the Chief of Detectives stops by and tells her that someone in the building smelled marijuana on her. The commander of the 27th Precinct, Anita Van Buren, is an integral part of the show and showcases a tough-as-nails female police officer willing to do whatever needs to be done. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Kincaid was killed by a drunk driver in an episode. As a result, two innocent suspects were imprisoned and one of them died before they could be exonerated. There was a problem. ago. Orbach who was so ill at that point he could barely speak, and producers worried he wouldnt recover his voice to re-record his lines later. Resident of One Chicago, the galaxy far, far away, and Northeast Ohio. After that, Merkerson appeared in the pilot episode of "Equal Justice"; she also made her first appearance on "Law & Order," playing the grief-stricken mother of a slain baby. New York, You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. In Season 20, Van Buren was diagnosed with Stage-II cervical cancer, caused by the sexually-transmitted human papillomavirus which she had contracted from Donald, who had been cheating on her. Lieutenant Anita Van Buren is a fictional character on NBC 's long-running police procedural and legal drama television series Law & Order, portrayed by S. Epatha Merkerson. In 1994, during an attempted robbery on her while at an ATM, Van Buren shot one of her robbers in the arm, but the bullet passed through and killed the other robber, a mentally disabled kid who was unarmed. Law & Order as well as SVU have been running for such a long time that there are bound to be examples of actors returning for different parts. But dont fret for Florek and Brooks. Online), she pointed out how, due to her longevity on the series, "kids" in their thirties were coming up to her talking about watching her on TV back in college. Donald Van Buren (ex-husband)Ric Van Buren (son)Stefan Van Buren (son)Frank Gibson (fiance)Unnamed sister After that, Merkerson obtained her MFA from New York University in 1978. Another fan favorite that could be making an appearance is S. Epatha Merkerson, whoplayed Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. "When I see my argument on screen, it's an amazing feeling to know that you're part of something. "Human Flesh Search Engine" I'm doing other things and this will be a great way to leave what has been an extraordinary gig. It was Lupo's idea after he overheard Van Buren's phone conversation in which she mentioned increasing medical bills. Following that, she appeared on "The Closer" and in the Lifetime television movie "Girl, Positive." I chose 'Van Buren' from our eighth president, Martin Van Buren, because I liked the aristocratic, old-family ring." "She went by 'Abby' in her personal and professional life, unlike Ann Landers . Her whereabouts have been unknown. HBO Maxs Penguin Series Has Cast Its Sal Maroni, So Does This Mean Two-Face Is Coming To The Batman Universe. Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it. Merkerson won a slew of laurels for her performance, including Golden Globe, Emmy, SAG, and NAACP Image Awards. Will not time travel, but will sneak references to The X-Files into daily conversation. Merkerson made an important mark on the show with her role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the original Law & Order series, which aired from 1990 to 2010. . NBC. Risk it and hope he recovers enough, even though they knew Orbach was dying or scrap most of his dialogue. (, Her father was wounded in Wasu, Koreaduring the Korean Warin 1952. Her first was in 1991, followed by her second in 1993 and her third in 1994. Merkerson made it through until the show was canceled more than a decade later. Family In the following episode, L&O: "Great Satan", one of her sons (it is unclear which one, as he is not named onscreen), is portrayed by Sean Nelson. (L&O: "Rubber Room") Law & Order (1 season, 7 episodes): Season 20 . Yet before "Law & Order" was canceled, Merkerson had already announced her decision to leave the series. Robinette was replaced with Assistant District Attorney Claire Kincaid, played by Jill Hennessy. In her post on Instagram celebrating the news that she has joined the cast of the upcoming revival, Manheim wrote: I am over the moon to be joining the cast of Law & Order as Lt. Kate Dixon. ", How S. Epatha Merkerson Really Feels About Her Law & Order Character. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, It was really that simple.". Although best known since 1993 as the smart and shrewd Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the long-running TV crime drama Law & Order (1990), she has a long list of Broadway and off-Broadway credits and honors that include Drama Desk Award and Tony Award nominations for Best Actress for her performance in the August Wilson play The Piano Lesson That means that some new actors will be settling into their roles to join the returning cast members, and one of those newcomers will have to replace S. Epatha Merkersons Anita Van Buren, who was a figure on Law & Order for well over a decade. Anita Van Buren is the Commanding Officer of the Detective Squad at the 27th Precinct in Law & Order. She WAS L&O as much as Sam Waterston! Anita Van Buren 1929), John Browns career for the last six weeks of his life was meteor-like, flashing through the darkness in which we live. For more information on cookies including how to manage your consent visit our. She also served as host of "Find Our Missing" for TVOne. She has also been nominated for two Tony Awards. Kate Dixon is needed to fill Lt. Van Buren's due (at least in part) to S. Epatha Merkerson's. DeMore Barnes is another notable one, as he appeared in One Chicago as one character before joining SVU as a different series regular. After Since leaving "Law & Order" in 2010, she has continued to appear in a wide variety of film, television, and theater projects. So I thought, legitimately, everybody could be whispering in that scene, he said. But since this is TV and primetime can cure anything, Anita Van Buren could be alive and well and still affiliated with Law & Order. She started in Season 4 and carried all the way through to the initial final season in 2010. Ernie Hudson To her surprise, the Chief gives her mints and directs her to someone who sells medicinal drugs and is careful and discreet. Fans of the original "Law & Order" are thrilled that NBC has renewed the series for Season 21 more than a decade after the network canceled the series. S. Epatha Merkerson (born November 28, 1952) is a film, stage, and television actor. In that same episode, her boyfriend Frank (portrayed by Ernie Hudson) appears for the first time. S. Epatha Merkerson Van Buren appeared in 390 episodes of Law & Order. ", a nickname Briscoe and Curtis had been using by that time since at least Season Eight (L&O: "Navy Blues"). He spent time atTulsa VA Hospitalin, Some of her detectives often addressed her affectionately by two shortened versions of her rank: "L.T." The show, which premiered in 1990 and has since launched spinoffs like "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," was named the 36th best show of all time by Rolling Stone and lives on in reruns. She continued appearing in supporting roles in such films as "Black Snake Moan," "Slipstream," "The Six Wives of Henry Lefay," and "Mother and Child." Twenty-nine actors appeared in the permanent cast over the 20 seasons of Law & Order. She replaced Captain Donald Cragen as head of the precinct in 1993. Due to the chemotherapy, she has lost her hair and begun using a wig (L&O: "Human Flesh Search Engine"). TV Shows. Bravo to BOTH her & the writers for giving Anita Van Buren the moments, lines, arc she & the series deserved! S. Epatha Merkerson is probably best-known for her long-running role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on NBC's "Law & Order". It is revealed that she spent five years as a patrol officer and seven years in undercover narcotics (L&O: "Fame"). That longevity earned her the distinction ofbeing TV's longest-running Black female character in primetime (via Mental Floss). Menu. She's not a doctor, lawyer, or detective, but watches a lot of them in primetime. Van Buren was a resilient and determined leader who wasn't afraid to make hard decisions, and deal with their subsequent (often even harder)consequences. Merkerson had many other credits during the run of "Law & Order." Merkerson actually started out as a guest star on the show 1990 and was hired as a series regular in 1993. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson): The rock of the NYPD. She also appeared in the role in some episodes of "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago P.D. In the 90s, she appeared in the television films "A Place for Annie" and "A Mother's Prayer." But I got the scene. Sometimes, it would lead to arguments, which Merkerson says she appreciated because it let her know that her bosses cared about her input. Actor Cyrus Lupo and Kevin Bernard call her "L.T. "Law & Order" Vendetta (TV Episode 2004) S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. S. Epatha Merkerson stars as Sharon Goodwin, the head of the hospital, on the NBC drama "Chicago Med. Merkerson has also appeared in many films, including "She's Gotta Have It," "Jacob's Ladder," "Lackawanna Blues," "Lincoln," and "Year by the Sea.". (L&O: "Competence"), In 1997, she sued the NYPD after a white woman with less experience was promoted over her. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Through 20 seasons she has broken through many barriers, including sexism. Her television movies include "A Mother's Prayer," "A Place for Annie," "Breaking Free," Lifetime's "The Gabby Douglas Story" and NBC's "Exiled," which featured former "Law & Order" cast member Chris Noth.In early 2012, Merkerson completed "The Contradictions of Fair Hope," marking her first feature documentary as executive producer/co-director. Theyve both remained busy according to their IMDb pages. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Showing Editorial results for anita van buren. "So Dick let two of the guys go, and he brought on two women. (L&O: "Bad Girl"; "Monster"), In 2001, Van Buren discovered that a case she solved 12 years earlier had been tainted by a fabricated fingerprint match given to her by her friend in the forensics department, Lisa Russo. She has had roles in productions such as "Lincoln," "Lackawanna Blues" and, most recently, on "Chicago Med." They have two sons, Ric (who is diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of six in 1995) and Stefan. The squad then announced that they and several of her friends in an out of the NYPD have all put in donations for her to afford cancer treatment.