Jane Seymore, a 70-year-old actress best known for playing “Solitaire” in the James Bond movie “Live and Let Die,” as well as “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” and countless other roles in movies and television, recently opened up about her experience with anaphylaxis, which nearly took her life.
Host Joe Duffy questioned the actress about her role in “The Meaning of Life,” a program on Irish Public Television.
Did you genuinely die, or were you just about to? asked Duffy.
But Seymour answered, “I was killed, and the doctors say I did die.”
She remembered, “I was playing Maria Callas in a movie about [Aristotle] Onassis. At the time, I was in Madrid, Spain. That Saturday, I let production know that I was critically unwell. I believe I should visit a doctor.
The physician arrived. He advised her to take two weeks off. No, they said, we need her Monday. Eventually, they made the decision to inject me with an antibiotic.
They left, and the male nurse showed up to finish it. He shot me, and I knew there was a problem. I experienced an anaphylactic shock.
In essence, I remember that my heart began to beat incredibly quickly and then stopped. Silent.
She claims that there had been “something’s wrong, something’s wrong” before “and suddenly there was tranquility,” the most incredible calm that was equivalent to deep meditation.
“White light was present. Well, that’s really fascinating, I thought. I immediately became aware that I was looking down at myself for some reason. And all I could do was implore them for something—anything—to let me get back to my body. I wish to bring up my kids. All I could think about was that.
It was not revealed how Ms. Seymour was eventually brought back to life.
Anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal reaction to food, insect venom, or environmental stimuli that can happen anytime and without warning, as it did in Ms. Seymour’s case.
Anaphylaxis symptoms include: low blood pressure (hypotension), constricted airways, swelling of the tongue or throat, which can induce wheezing and breathing difficulties, a rapid, weak pulse, dizziness or fainting, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea are all possible cutaneous reactions.
Epinephrine is the only medication that can stop and reverse the progression of anaphylaxis.
If you have a chemical or food allergy, you should always keep two epinephrine auto-injectors on hand. You need two because one dose might not be enough to stop anaphylaxis from progressing, the device might break, or you might use it improperly.
