Susanna Reid and Ed Balls led poignant tributes to Fiona Phillips, a broadcaster.
After many years of promoting awareness of the condition and supporting organisations investigating it, the 62-year-old former GMTV anchor disclosed on Tuesday that she had been diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Fiona has already lost her mother, father, and uncle to Alzheimer’s disease.
She reported to The Mirror that she was diagnosed at the age of 61, prompting an outpouring of support from friends, followers, and well-wishers around the country.
On Good Morning Britain on Wednesday, hosts Susanna and Ed expressed their astonishment and admiration for Fiona over the news, both paying respect to her.
Susanna wished Fiona, who has worked with GMTV for almost a decade, “well wishes.”
She called the ‘hugely popular broadcaster and journalist’ who ‘we all know and love’ as a ‘great campaigner’ for families impacted by the horrifying disease.
Ed, whose mother struggled with Alzheimer’s for almost 20 years, observed that “if you have a parent with Alzheimer’s or dementia, it’s always on your mind.”
‘Could it be hereditary? Could it be me? Now it’s a reality she’s dealing with and doing it so very bravely.’
He added that Fiona will now ‘be helping people, as she’s always done,’ while also going through the disease herself.
Other TV stars and celebrities have also raced to wish Fiona well, with Denise Welch of Loose Women calling her a “wonderful woman.”
Lorraine Kelly wrote: ‘As expected our much loved Fiona is dealing with this shattering diagnosis with courage and optimism. She’s a good kind soul and I pray the treatment works and results in a massive breakthrough for everyone dealing with this hellish disease.
‘Sending her and her family all my love.’
Fiona stated in an open and candid interview on Tuesday that she can no longer hide the illness, which she had hidden from her sons Nat, 24, and Mackenzie, 21, for months.
Because of the misery the sickness had already caused her family, the presenter, who is married to This Morning CEO Martin Frizell, claimed she was ‘mad’ at the revelation.
‘My poor mum was crippled with it, then my dad, my grandparents, my uncle. It just keeps coming back for us,’ she said.
Fiona said she chose to share her experience after keeping the news quiet for 18 months in order to help eradicate the stigma around Alzheimer’s.
‘There is still an issue with this disease that the public thinks of old people, bending over a stick, talking to themselves,’ she said.
‘But I’m still here, getting out and about, meeting friends for coffee, going for dinner with Martin, and walking every day.’
She is participating in clinical studies at London’s University College Hospital, which seek to revolutionise future therapy.
More information about Alzheimer’s disease
More information about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can be found at the Alzheimer’s Society website: alzheimers.org.uk.
You can contact their support line on 0333 150 3456.
Source My Celebrity Life.
