Martin Frizzell and Fiona Phillips, the former GMTV star’s husband, openly discussed his Alzheimer’s disease.
Fiona Phillips was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2023 and now her husband has made a heartbreaking confession as they deal with the condition. Martin Frizzell, 65, has admitted he wishes the former GMTV star, 64, had “cancer instead”.
Martin, who has been married to Fiona for 28 years opened up in the couple’s joint memoir titled Remember When: My Life with Alzheimer’s. The release comes after Fiona has continued to be open about her condition following her diagnosis two years ago.
Martin’s devastating confession was revealed in an excerpt from the book. He said, “It’s shocking to say, but at least she might have had a chance of finding a cure, and she most likely would have had a treatment plan and a range of support and care packages,” when describing his wish that she had instead been diagnosed with cancer.
The Mail quoted a statement that read, “But that’s not there for Alzheimer’s.” similarly to the absence of funny or inspiring TikTok videos or fashion shoots featuring happy, healthy, and in-remission survivors.
After receiving their diagnosis, Martin continued, “the pair had been left to cope alone.” He acknowledges that he has taken on tasks that he had previously assumed to be unimportant since receiving the diagnosis. Additionally, the pair has hired a trained caregiver to give the former TV star the best care possible. In February, Martin resigned from his ITV position to take care of Fiona.
Martin explained how Fiona experiences confusion when her parents, who have sadly passed away, call in on difficult days. Fiona also mentioned how initially she was having trouble accepting the diagnosis.
In her own words, she said the challenges she faces are like “trying to chase a £5 note that’s fallen out of your purse on a gusty day”. She candidly said that it felt as though every time she had caught it, it blew out of reach once more.
Fiona explained the couple’s motivation for writing the book, saying, “Gradually, Martin and I thought maybe I should start telling more people. Martin believed that if more people knew what was going on with me, they wouldn’t judge me if I ever started acting strangely, which I didn’t believe I did. I hardly ever yelled at people while walking down the street in my underwear.
Alzheimer’s disease is the UK’s most prevalent cause of dementia, according to the NHS. A group of symptoms known as dementia are related to an ongoing decline in brain function, which can affect memory, thinking, and other mental abilities.
When Fiona first started experiencing “brain fog and anxiety,” she initially believed she was experiencing menopause symptoms.
Unfortunately, the actress already had firsthand knowledge of Alzheimer’s after receiving the condition from both of her parents.
Source: Mirror
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