Editing Curly Howard (section)

===Retirement===
Still not fully recovered from his stroke, Howard met Valerie Newman and married her on July 31, 1947. A friend, Irma Leveton, later recalled, "Valerie was the only decent thing that happened to Curly and the only one that really cared about him."<ref name="Scrapbook"/> Although his health continued to decline after the marriage, Valerie gave birth to a daughter, Janie, in 1948.<ref name="A&E"/>

Later that year, Howard suffered a second massive stroke, which left him partially paralyzed. He used a wheelchair by 1950 and was fed boiled rice and apples as part of his diet to reduce his weight (and blood pressure). Valerie admitted him into the [[Motion Picture & Television Fund]]'s Country House and Hospital on August 29, 1950. He was released after several months of treatment and medical tests, although he returned periodically until his death.<ref name="Scrapbook"/>

In February 1951, Howard entered a nursing home, where he suffered another stroke a month later. In April, he went to live at the North Hollywood Hospital and Sanitarium.<ref name="Scrapbook"/>