Martin Frizell, Fiona Phillips’s husband, has described how her deteriorating health has made her more and more confused and isolated. He is unable to explain why she is being treated in the hospital.
Former This Morning editor Martin Frizell revealed in a deeply emotional interview how early-onset Alzheimer’s had had a significant impact on his wife Fiona Phillips.
Fiona’s diagnosis, which was devastating, was at the age of 61, and her condition has already gotten worse. He stated to Newsnight’s Victoria Derbyshire, “I used to say good days and bad days, but now I just say bad days or wretched days,” adding that the word “wretched” is a great one for it.
He recalled a heartrending taxi ride where Fiona, 64, was completely disoriented while she was taking a hospital appointment: “She asked me, “Where are we going?” 72 times.
She has a secondary pain, according to Martin, explaining that Fiona needed to see doctors for an unrelated condition. Where is the pain coming from, we are unsure. We’re not sure if it’s physiological.
She panics, and it’s unacceptable to just drive with that. “I couldn’t drive her.” Because I’m afraid, I wouldn’t take her on public transportation.
There is a good chance that someone might approach Fiona, he explained, which would cause confusion and distress because she still looks as she did when she was a regular face on TV.
He said Fiona was confused about the fact that she was in the taxi and kept saying, “We’re going to see the doctor, and hopefully he’ll take the pain away,” and then, literally 15 seconds later, she would say, “Where are we going?” “
Martin admitted in perhaps his most heartbreaking admission that he would have preferred it if his wife had been diagnosed with cancer rather than Alzheimer’s.
He said, “My mother died from cancer,” and I am aware of the effects that cancer can have. My father passed away from cancer.
However, I doubt Fiona will ever be able to enjoy a glass of wine again, walk on a beach properly again, take a trip to the theater, film a movie, drive a car, or prepare a meal for her children.
He continued, “My worry is that on her deathbed, whenever that may occur, and hopefully it will be a long time from now,”
According to Martin, there is always a chance that someone with cancer will recover from the condition or at least be slowed down. He added, however, that Alzheimer’s does not have any hope.
Former England international footballer John Barnes, political commentator Andrew Neil, and Heart FM DJ Toby Anstis all revealed their risk of developing 11 major illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease, in the documentary The Killer in Me, which was released in November 2007.
In August 2008, Fiona stepped down from helming ITV’s flagship Breakfast show GMTV Today, and, in a poignant moment, Martin shared a clip of her last words on the show, saying : “It’s been such a privilege sharing my mornings with you, and I won’t forget you.”
Remember When: My Life with Alzheimer’s, a memoir written by Martin and journalist Alison Phillips, is due out this week.
Source: Mirror
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