Fiona Phillips ‘hugely touched’ by assist after revealing Alzheimer’s prognosis
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V presenter Fiona Phillips is “hugely touched” by the assist she has obtained after revealing she has been identified with Alzheimer’s illness, her consultant has stated.
Lorraine Kelly and shadow house secretary Yvette Cooper have been among the many well-known faces who despatched their finest needs to the previous GMTV presenter, who introduced in Wednesday’s Daily Mirror that she had been identified greater than a 12 months in the past with Alzheimer’s illness.
The 62-year-old instructed the newspaper she initially had “brain fog and anxiety”, however initially thought she was experiencing menopause signs.
Phillips, who’s an Alzheimer’s Society ambassador and a Daily Mirror columnist, stated she had lengthy feared being given the prognosis because the illness has “ravaged” her household – together with her mom, father, grandparents and uncle all having the sickness.
Following the outpouring of on-line assist, a consultant for the TV presenter instructed the PA news company: “She is of course hugely touched by the outpouring of support that she’s received at this extremely difficult time.”
Kelly, who additionally labored on GMTV, stated on Twitter that “as expected” Phillips is coping with her “shattering” prognosis with “courage and optimism”.
The host of ITV’s Lorraine added: “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.”
On Wednesday’s episode of Good Morning Britain (GMB), host Susanna Reid stated: “We are all sending our huge best wishes this morning to Fiona Phillips, well known to all of you as the former presenter of GMTV, for more than a decade.
“Just a hugely popular presenter and journalist, we all know and love her, she has also been an incredible advocate to family’s living with Alzheimer’s.”
Phillips is collaborating in a medical trial which has a brand new drug that would gradual the results of the illness, the paper reported.
Her husband Martin Frizell, editor of ITV’s flagship programme This Morning, stated University College Hospital in London, which goals to revolutionise future remedy, could possibly be giving her “the real drug or a placebo”.
“It’s been weeks now and I like to think her condition is stabilising but I am too close to know really, that could just be my wishful thinking,” Frizell added.
Journalist Phillips, who anchored GMTV for greater than a decade and competed on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2005, additionally defined she was sharing the news to cut back the stigma across the illness.
She stated: “There is still an issue with this disease that the public thinks of old people, bending over a stick, talking to themselves.
“But I’m still here, getting out and about, meeting friends for coffee, going for dinner with Martin and walking every day.”
Phillips additionally stated that she was in “total shock” after the physician instructed her she had Alzheimer’s.
Frizell stated: “I just felt sick. We both sat in silence. There was no funny line to make this go away. Nothing smart to say. Nothing.”
In the UK, Alzheimer’s illness is the most typical reason for dementia, which is the identify for a bunch of signs related to an ongoing decline of mind perform, in accordance with the NHS web site.
Ms Cooper additionally stated she was sending “very much love” to Phillips, who launched Alan Johnson on the 2009 Labour Party convention.
Ms Cooper wrote on Twitter: “Huge admiration for her strength & care for others in speaking out like this on something so tough.”
Kate Lee, chief government on the Alzheimer’s Society, praised Phillips’ determination to share her prognosis, which raised “much-needed awareness of dementia”.
“Our thoughts are with our ambassador Fiona Phillips and her family following the announcement that she’s living with dementia,” Ms Lee stated.
“Fiona has frequently spoken out about her parents’ experiences of dementia, and her support of Alzheimer’s Society has been hugely impactful and greatly appreciated.
“Sharing such personal news publicly raises much-needed awareness of dementia and we are extremely grateful to Fiona.
“We are here to offer our support to Fiona and her family and to everyone affected by dementia.”
Phillips has been an extended campaigner for Alzheimer’s consciousness and in 2012 took half in a Department of Health and Social Care marketing campaign to encourage households to have a tough dialog with their family members concerning the situation and search assist.
Her 2009 Channel 4 documentary Dispatches: Mum, Dad, Alzheimer’s And Me additionally gave an perception into her appearing as a carer for her household.
Hilary Evans, chief government of Alzheimer’s Research UK, stated: “We’re sending our love and support to Fiona and her family following her announcement that she’s living with Alzheimer’s disease.
“It takes such courage to go public with a diagnosis and Fiona knows better than most just how much good that can do.
“Awareness is vital and Fiona’s bravery will help untold people who are going through their own dementia journeys.
“Fiona’s been a friend of Alzheimer’s Research UK for well over a decade, and her support has shone such a valuable spotlight on the importance of research in overcoming the diseases that cause dementia.
“There are around 70,800 people with dementia in the UK who, like Fiona, are under 65, and we’re determined to find a cure to end the heartbreak it causes.
“And we’re so grateful to Fiona for standing with us in our mission.”