After What’s Happening!! ended, Spencer pursued a career in veterinary medicine, earning a doctorate from Tuskegee University in 1993. She practiced as a veterinarian in California for over two decades before relocating to Richmond, Virginia, in 2014 to be closer to family .
Spencer also became an advocate for animal welfare and occasionally appeared in acting roles, including a portrayal of a veterinarian in the 1997 film As Good as It Gets .
Health Challenges and Legacy
Throughout her life, Spencer faced significant health challenges. In 2004, she was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a condition believed to be linked to her earlier car accident, which left her temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. She underwent extensive rehabilitation and credited the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation with aiding her recovery .
In 2014, Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. She also had emergency surgery in 2018 to address a bleeding hematoma .
