By ALAN PERROTT
Terminally ill broadcaster Angela D'Audney has discharged herself from hospital to go home.
The veteran television and radio personality admitted herself to Auckland Hospital's cancer unit nine days ago when her health continued to deteriorate following a six-week radiotherapy programme.
Television New Zealand head of communications Glen Sowry says
D'Audney has accepted she is not likely to recover from the illness, but is remaining positive.
"No, she hasn't given up hope and she is trying to remain as mobile and active as possible. Angela has many close friends here and several are seeing her daily to offer whatever support and help they can."
The tumour was diagnosed last May when the 57-year-old complained to her doctor that she was having difficulty reading the TV One newsautocue.
She underwent an operation two weeks later to remove a "ping-pong ball-sized" tumour.
Despite the operation, D'Audney's health continued to suffer and by the time her co-written biography, Angela: A Wonderful Life, was published last month, she was having trouble speaking and coordinating her limbs.
Mr Sowry says his colleague is an icon of New Zealand broadcasting who is handling an extremely difficult situation as positively as she can.
Biography co-writer Nicky Pellegrino says her friend's condition is serious, but she is battling on.
"Her attitude towards the whole thing hasn't really changed from the start. I saw her recently and she was bearing up well."
D'Audney has been a regular fixture in New Zealand broadcasting since she first appeared in 1962 as an 18-year-old.
In 1973, she became the country's first woman television newsreader.
Mr Sowry says she is highly respected within the industry and paved the way for the women who followed her.
