Jeff Bridges Says He Was ‘Close To Dying’ Last Year During Cancer Fight

The Oscar-winning Hollywood star Jeff Bridges has shockingly revealed that he almost died in January of last year when he contracted COVID-19 while also undergoing chemotherapy for his non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

‘COVID Made My Cancer Look Like Nothing’

Bridges, 72, explained to People Magazine that because he was undergoing chemotherapy treatments, he had no resistance when he tested positive for COVID-19.

“I had no defenses. That’s what chemo does — it strips you of all your immune system. I had nothing to fight it,” Bridges said. “COVID made my cancer look like nothing.”

Bridges spent the next five months in a hospital bed, where his pain was extreme and he had to call a nurse even to help him roll over.

“I was pretty close to dying. The doctors kept telling me, ‘Jeff, you’ve got to fight. You’re not fighting,'” Bridges recalled. “I was in surrender mode. I was ready to go. I was dancing with my mortality.”

Related: Jeff Bridges Breaks Hollywood Protocol: I’m ‘Rooting’ for President Trump!

Bridges Makes Recovery – Returns To Work

Thankfully, Bridges’ situation started to turn around after doctors gave him a convalescent plasma. This treatment uses blood from people who have recovered from an illness to help others who are struggling with it. 

“I started taking baby steps,” said Bridges. “Each day brought more strength and more hope. He began working with a physical therapist three times a week.”

Bridges was able to overcome all of this to the point where his cancer is now in remission, and he’s even been able to return to work with his new television drama “The Old Man.”

“As the show started getting into shape, I said, ‘Oh, we are coming up with something really cool here,'” Bridges stated.

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Bridges Appreciates His Family More Than Ever

After his difficult health struggles, Bridges appreciates his family more than ever, so he loves spending time with his beloved wife, their three daughters, and their three grandchildren. He also remains close with his brother, the actor Beau Bridges, according to Daily Mail. 

“Who would say, ‘I’d love some cancer and give me a dose of COVID? But my ability to receive all the love and give it was just heightened,” he said. “Everything was turned up in the most beautiful way.”

Back in March, Bridges opened up about what it was like to return to filming his television show after his cancer and COVID-19 journeys. 

“I went through a year-and-a-half of this bizarre dream and then came back,” Bridges said. “It was great to be back with the gang.”

We’re so glad to see that Bridges is back in the saddle! Please join us in saying a prayer for his good health in the months and years to come.