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Anne Heche ‘Not Expected to Survive,” According to Her Family

Anne Heche

Heche crashed her car into a house in California last Friday and has been in critical condition since.

@wgacooper
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Actor Anne Heche is not expected to survive after suffering an 'anoxic' brain injury from her fiery crash last Friday.

"It has long been her choice to donate her organs and she is being kept on life support to determine if any are viable," Heche's spokesperson said in a statement from her friends and family, Deadline reports.

The spokesperson added, "Anne had a huge heart and touched everyone she met with her generous spirit. More than her extraordinary talent, she saw spreading kindness and joy as her life's work -- especially moving the needle for acceptance of who you love. She will be remembered for her courageous honesty and dearly missed for her light."

Heche's rep said she has been in a coma since shortly after the car crash.

An anoxic brain injury results from the brain being cut off from oxygen, which causes cell death.

Heche, 53, suffered her injuries after her Mini Cooper hit a home in Mar Vista that was being rented by Lynne Michele, who was able to escape the fire that engulfed and destroyed the house and Heche's car.

Authorities probing the crash were granted a warrant earlier this week to test her blood after the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed they were investigating Heche for driving under the influence at the time of the crash.

"The blood draw results showed a presence of narcotics, but additional testing is required to rule out any substances that were administered in the hospital," Officer Annie Hernandez told CNN.

The actor and Ellen DeGeneres were in a relationship from 1997 to 2000 and were a high-profile couple, with many public appearances, especially around the time of DeGeneres's coming-out in 1997.

Heche's films include Donnie Brasco, Wag the Dog, John Q, and Gus Van Sant's remake of Psycho. She has appeared in numerous TV series including Men in Trees and Hung and was Emmy-nominated for one of them, Gracie's Choice. She won a Daytime Emmy for her role in the soap opera Another World early in her career, and she received GLAAD's Stephen F. Kolzak Award in 2000, honoring her as an LGBTQ+ media professional who has advanced acceptance of the community.

More recently, she has been writing a second book. She also has had a recurring role on the TV series All Rise and has wrapped a Lifetime movie, Girl in Room 13.

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