Lorraine Kelly sent a message of encouragement to TV presenter Fiona Phillips after she revealed she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease on Tuesday.
The daily mirror columnist, co-host ITV GMTV in the decade since the late 1990s, she says she was diagnosed 18 months ago after experiencing a severe bout of anxiety and brain fog.
Lorraine wrote on Twitter: “As expected, our beloved Fiona is dealing with this devastating diagnosis with courage and optimism. She is a kind and generous person. I pray. that the treatment works and brings tremendous progress to those who are dealing with this illness. I send her and her family all my love.”
© GettyFiona reveals her dementia diagnosis on Tuesday
Lorraine’s followers were quick to react to the post, with one person writing: “Sad news. I remember watching a documentary about her years ago and the profound effect it had on her parents. I love Fiona Phillips, she’s such a wonderful woman. It’s heartbreaking.”
Fiona opened up about her diagnosis in an interview with The Mirror, explaining that the illness has “devastated” her family.
© ShutterstockLorraine sends her love to Fiona and her family
“I just hope that I can help find a cure that can make things better for others in the future,” she continued.
“I feel angrier than anything because this disease has affected my life in so many ways. My poor mother was disabled because of it, then my dad, my grandparents, my uncles and aunts. me. It kept coming back to us.”
The journalist said she hopes that sharing her story will help tackle the stigma surrounding the disease. “There is still a problem with this disease that the public thinks of old people bending over a stick and talking to themselves,” she said. “But I’m still here, going out, meeting friends for coffee, going out to dinner with Martin and walking every day.”
© ITV/Shutterstock Fiona and Lorraine worked together at GMTV
Fiona is married to This Morning boss Martin Frizell, four, and has two children, Nat, 24, and Mackenzie, 21.
Fiona, who is currently undergoing trials of a new drug to help fight the disease, explained that Martin has been “wonderful” and injects the drug into her stomach every day.
© GettyFiona with husband Martin Frizella
The drug, called Miridesap, is being studied at the University College London Trust hospital and is administered three times a day with fine needles.
However, with half of the patients trying the drug taking a placebo, Martin said they “didn’t know if Fiona was taking the real drug or a placebo”.
He continued, “It’s been weeks and I’d like to think her condition is stabilizing, but I’m too close to know; it might just be wishful thinking.”
© GettyFiona was diagnosed at the age of 61
Fiona added: “But even if it doesn’t work for me, these tests will help others in the future, so I have to move on.”
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: HIS Education