This week Dr. Danielle Spencer, best known for her role as Dee on the 70s sitcom "What's Happening," passed away age 60 [click here if you missed that].
Dr. Spencer's mother and brother share insight on her passing...
From TMZ
Danielle's mom, Cheryl Pelt, tells TMZ ... Danielle was hospitalized August 1 after a urinary tract infection turned septic, and she was unable to eat hard foods.
What's more, we're told Danielle had pneumonia in both lungs ... and she was losing weight and her gastric cancer was kicking up.
Danielle's mom says her family was with her Sunday in a Virginia hospital, and she was talking and alert.
The former child star's mother says Danielle suffered a "code blue" and was unresponsive ... doctors worked on her and found a pulse, and she was transferred to the ICU for more targeted treatment ... but her heart was weakening.
Danielle's mother says after her acting career slowed, she started working as a veterinarian in the Los Angeles area for over two decades ... which was always her dream after acting.
But we're told Danielle got sick in 2013 and she moved in with her mother at Cheryl's home in Virginia.
Danielle's mom says her daughter suffered a long time ... she battled cancer, and there were long-lasting health complications from a severe car accident back in the day, which killed her stepfather, Tim Pelt.
Her jazz musician brother Jeremy Pelt tells TMZ ... Danielle had a tremendous amount of love and care for those she loved -- her nieces and nephews -- and she remained positive in her darkest moments.
