Simply stunning Danielle! She’s a beautiful woman on the inside and out and she said this about her cancer diagnosis (via Black America Web):
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“With everything that I’ve been through with the spinal cord injury, I said I know God is not going to give me another affliction. So I was completely shocked when the doctors told me [I had breast cancer]. I have a lot of help and support around me. I’m trying to get as many opinions as possible but it does look like that [having surgery] is what I’m going to do.”

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Throughout it all, Danielle has found a way to smile and maintain a positive spirit, even in the midst of fighting such a grueling fight. Maybe that’s because being a tough fighter is nothing new to “Dee.” She’s been fighting through pain and physical ailments for most of her life, starting at the age of 10.

In 1977, while she was a star on What’s Happening, Danielle was in a horrific car accident that killed her stepfather and left her in a coma for 3 weeks with a broken pelvis, arm and leg. She stayed out of the tapings for the show for 6 months and had to initially film several of her What’s Happening scenes sitting down. She eventually healed and began to lead a normal life again, but the real long-lasting effects of her injuries from that ’77 accident, didn’t truly surface until approximately 11 years ago (23 years after the accident), when she was in her late 30’s. She had to have surgery on her back because of complications from the car accident and the surgery left her paralyzed from the waist down for eight months, and she even contemplated suicide, but somehow she found the strength to keep fighting. Nowadays, Danielle still has a debilitating spinal cord injury, which causes her to have to oftentimes walk with the assistance of forearm crutches.

Do you think Danielle’s letting any of this stop her will to live and her drive though? Not hardly! She is still a veterinarian and she still sometimes makes public appearances to greet her fans and speak with other people whom are suffering from some form of paralysis.

In addition to being a veterinarian, Danielle has also added the title of author to her name. She released a book about her life in 2013 titled, Through The Fire…Journal Of A Child Star. It’s an interesting read by the way.

If Danielle “Dee” Spencer isn’t the epitome’ of strength, then we don’t know what is! She touched the lives of many of us back in the day as “Dee” and she’s continuing to touch the lives and hearts of many folks now. Keep fighting “Dee,” you’re an inspiration to all of us!

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