Golden Girls Mcclanahan Recovering From Stroke

Golden Girls star Rue McClanahan is struggling to walk and talk after suffering a stroke while recovering from a November (09) heart bypass operation.

The actress' husband Morrow Wilson tells America's Globe magazine the 75 year old collapsed in a New York hospital a week after undergoing surgery.

Doctors worked around the clock to remove a blood clot, but feared they'd failed to save McClanahan's life.

Wilson says, "Then, her right leg began to move and, not long afterward, she was able to walk a bit. "They kept her in Icu (intensive care) for two weeks and then put her into the rehab centre.

She's come out of that and is now in a nursing facility". But the stroke has taken it's toll on the actress. Wilson, who has been married to McClanahan for 12 years, adds, "She canunderstand what you are saying in conversation, but still has some trouble speaking.

Her speech is slower than it once was and she hasn't completely recovered on the right side of her body.

"She's going to require a lot more physical and speech therapy... but at least it's not like I stay awake at nights anymore thinking that Rue isgoing to die".

McClanahan's health crisis is the latest drama for the former Golden Girls cast - Estelle Getty died in 2008 and Bea Arthur lost her battle withcancer last April (09).