Chandra Wilson Death Rumor Sparks Concern Among Fans Online

Chandra Wilson isn’t prepared to part ways with *Grey’s Anatomy* just yet.

Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE during Sunday’s *Grey’s Anatomy* PaleyFest event, the 53-year-old actress discussed her future on ABC’s long-running medical drama as fellow cast members Ellen Pompeo and Kelly McCreary have reduced their involvement in the series.

“I used to say, ‘I’m staying until the wheels come off, until the absolute end, and surely it can’t go on much longer, right?’ But then it just keeps going,” said Wilson, who has portrayed Dr. Miranda Bailey since the show premiered in 2005. “At this point, my goal is to make it to the final episode, the final day, and the final scene.”

She continued, “Now that I’ve said it out loud, I have to see it through.”

Wilson also hinted at what lies ahead for Bailey, who has been trying to regain a healthy work-life balance after returning to the hospital during the current season of *Grey’s Anatomy*.

“She’s about to face something that challenges her professionally, pushes her skills as a surgeon, and tests her roles as both a wife and a mother,” Wilson said. “It’s another reminder of how women, in particular, are constantly trying to keep every responsibility in the air without falling apart.”

Wilson’s choice to stay with the acclaimed series—which *Variety* recently reported has been renewed for a 20th season—follows McCreary’s announcement last month that she would be leaving *Grey’s Anatomy*.

On March 17, McCreary reflected on her nine seasons with *Grey’s* in an emotional Instagram post, writing, “9 seasons, 200 episodes, scores of heroic surgeries, countless brave patients, dozens of delightful sister house scenes, 1 episode with my real-life sister, some loss and some grief, a few ghostly visitations from mothers, a handful of boyfriends, 2 gorgeous weddings, a bunch of drunken emotional breakdowns, 1 high-speed chase, several awkward dinner parties, 1 punch taken (1 punch thrown), at least 1 pratfall, buckets of tears, innumerable fits of laughter, all the medical jargon mastered, a slew of friends for life, myriad collaborators who grew me as an artist, 1 grateful heart and 1 massive THANK YOU.”

She concluded, “What a ride! 🥹♥️🙏🏾.”

Following the fall finale of *Grey’s Anatomy*, Pompeo posted a heartfelt farewell message on Instagram in November.

“I am eternally grateful and humbled by the love and support you have all shown me, Meredith GREY and the show for 19 seasons!” wrote the 53-year-old Pompeo. “Through it all….none of it …would have been possible without the best fans in the world. You all are RIDERS and you all have made the ride so fun and ICONIC!!”

She also wrote, “I love you madly and appreciate you right back.”

This season, Pompeo scaled back her role on the series to focus on other projects, including Hulu’s adaptation of the 2009 film *Orphan*, a chilling adoption story in which a couple discovers that their newly adopted daughter is actually an adult woman pretending to be a child.