MICHAEL LANDON’S DAUGHTER SAYS ‘LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE’ STAR WAS COMPLETELY MISGUIDED FOR HER CHILDREN
The former actress, along with her double sister, Brenda, landed the role of Baby Grace in the hit series “The Prairie House”, in which they gave the impression from 1978 to 1982.
Lee’s life in general beyond the cameras until 2015, when he began to revel in unbearable headaches and confusion. He soon learned that he had a brain tumor, a delight he insisted on only strengthened his religion in God.
More recently, Lee has published an e-book called “A Prairie Devotional”, which offers non-secular life classes animated throughout the series. The former child actress, a proud Christian, said she was looking to share her wisdom in the hope of helping someone in their own struggle.
Lee spoke to Fox News about his shocking diagnosis, what Baby Grace looks like and how he is helping keep the show’s legacy alive.
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Fox News: In 2015, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. When did you realize something was wrong? Wendi Lou Lee: It was about six weeks before my surgery that I started having terrible headaches, dizziness and forgetfulness. Definitely a lot of intellectual confusion. It took my doctors about six weeks to, despite everything, ordering a brain scan. Then we found out.
Fox News: What was the point of the diagnosis? Read: Honestly, the last six weeks were so horrible that I felt I could never get better. So I looked for an answer. So when I found out there was a brain tumor and it was operable, I was relieved. I felt there was some kind of hope for me, despite everything, healing me.
But before that, I felt like it was going to be like this for the rest of my life. I didn’t know how I was going to work. When I found out, I was relieved. And I still had peace. And yet it made sense: he had a brain tumor. I think other people would be scared, they’d be devastated by the news. But in my case, I felt that I still had an answer and there was something we could do about it.
Fox News: How was your surgery? Read: I entered my workplace very excitedly and in the hope that God would take the subjects into my own hands. But when I woke up from surgery, I wasn’t the typical patient who wakes up. He was very exuberant and told stories. I don’t forget to tell my circle of relatives that it was the most productive day of my life, which is something like I said.
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But I was so grateful to be alive, that I may not forget my call and my children’s calls, I think I was at that level … But the recovery was difficult, having to handle my two little kids Was incredibly sensitive to sound and movement. And when you have two young children, it’s sensory overload, it was hard for me. Maybe I won’t even go to the bathroom by myself, let alone take my kids to school.
Fox News: How was your recovery? Read: Everyone reacts to the operation. Their senses may be exacerbated or very depressed. Either you’re completely out of it and you’re not in it, or you’re electrified, and that’s how I was. My sense of smell: everything intensified long after my scalp scratched. I was so aware of everything.
Fox News: How did religion play a role in its recovery? Lee: Faith played a huge role. Before my surgery, I was so desperate. I kept praying and saying, “I love you, please stay with me.” And then, after the surgery, I felt such gratitudeArray … I felt my religion wake up and I had this sense of audacity to share my story in the hope that I could help someone.
Fox News: How are you today? Read: I’m fine. I still suffer from some headaches, but overall I’m fine. I have a scan every August where they check the site of my surgery and make sure everything looks good. But if I don’t, I’m fine.
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Fox News: How has this delight affected your religion in any way? Read: It was the hardest thing I had to deal with. At the time, I felt like I was going through another typhoon. The most productive thing I can do in this scenario is simply to accept as true that God knows what he is doing. A lot of other people didn’t realize how it was possible.
But I have continued to return to verse in Romans 15:13, which is “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace through accepting as true within Him, that you may possibly overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” You may not feel any joy or peace at this time in your life, yet God has a plan. And after the surgery, I was so satisfied and so at peace, more than it really made sense. I think it’s because I put my acceptance as true in God.
Fox News: Was there a moment of your recovery when you tried to give up? Read: I’m more frustrated than anything. You are in a very attractive position when you are a very careful user who takes care of your circle of relatives and you get to that position where you can’t do anything for yourself. I just had to let the control pass.
I had to let other people take my kids to school, let others cook for me. basically, I had to let others do everything for me while I healed. I guess that fall is the hardest thing for me. But each and every day I got more and then a few days I felt like I was going back a few steps. He felt smart walking to the mailbox. And other days I just couldn’t. Recovery means being humble enough to allow others to help you.
”LITTLE HOUSE IN THE PRAIRIE” CAST ENCORE AT WORK WITH MICHAEL LANDON
Fox News: How did you get the role of Baby Grace?Lee: I would like to say it was the grace of God because I did nothing to earn that position. We were 6 months old when my grandmother was having lunch with the casting director on “Little House.” It came up in conversation that they were looking for a baby Grace, but they couldn’t find blonde-haired blue-eyed twin girls that were about six months old.
A soft light bulb lit for my grandmother. She without delay said, “My granddaughters would be perfect!” She sent a picture. The idea of the executive maker is great. My mom got us. Michael [Landon] glanced at us and said, “These are our daughters. And that’s it. We haven’t done anything yet, let’s be ourselves.
Fox News: What do you think of Michael Landon today? Lee: Michael was just amazing. We were small, so we didn’t have the same memories as the other cast members. But I don’t forget to think that he was essentially my father. My dad wasn’t in the picture when we were on the show. He left our circle of relatives when I was two and a half years old. And then we didn’t have a father figure in our lives.
When you’re so young, it’s hard to have a lot of memories. But I don’t forget for being very charming, very patient. I don’t forget once I was heading for a scene and let “No way, Joseph!” And there was like a drowned cry. Who says no to Michael Landon? Apparently, Baby Grace. First he said, “What?!” And he laughed. And then everyone laughed. But it was a wonderful laugh to be there. He was like a father figure and very committed to all of us.
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Fox News: Don’t you forget the last time you saw him? Read: The last time I saw him was just before he got sick. And if I was, you’d have no idea he was sick. I was busy generating and performing on Highway to Heaven. “I was absolutely at the heart of the matter.”
Fox News: How was your date with Melissa Gilbert? Lee: Melissa was actually like an older sister. She killed me. She used to sneak into our locker room when she intended to be at school just to spend time with us. But we were all very close. She claims she taught us our first word “laughs.” It was “pearl” because we were playing with those little beads on a rope. She was great. She hugged us, fed us.
Fox News: What was your life like after “Little House on the Prairie”?Read: We auditioned for a McDonald’s commercial.It didn’t happen very well as we’ve never eaten McDonald’s before.We didn’t even know who Ronald McDonald was, so we didn’t get that part.But at the next audition we did, they gave us the part.
We had a day of shooting with a pair of twins. We think it was a wonderful and fun day. But my mom found out that no position in Hollywood was like Little House. They didn’t care if we were hungry or tired. They were just looking for the job. So we left the exhibition business and started kindergarten. And that was it. We’ve grown as often as possible.
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Fox News: Have you ever been tempted to return to the theater? Read: No, I think we’re very grateful to our mom who got us out of this scene. I think we’re just looking to be people in general. Definitely very concerned about art school skills shows and things like that, but nothing but a child in general would know. When we reconnected with the actors in 2004, we hadn’t noticed them for about 25 years. Then we did all those occasions so, for 15 years, I’ve been traveling with the actors elsewhere and organizing occasions for fans.
Fox News: How vital is it to keep the show’s legacy alive?Read: It’s so vital. I didn’t realize how many people saw the exhibition until we started doing those events.And I feel like there are more enthusiasts every year.There’s a new generation of spectators. It’s pretty great that I’m not going anywhere so soon.
Fox News: What do you think is the secret to the show’s good fortune?Read: This shows how others need undeniable stories based on religion and the circle of family members.I think the audience just craves easier times and the series gives it.The exhibition focuses on survival and relies on religion and the circle of relatives to triumph over the pitfalls of life.