Denise Welch has said that her 63rd birthday has been "bittersweet" after she spent the day at her father's hospital bedside after he suffered complications following surgery.
The Loose Women panellist shared on Instagram that she had been with her dad Vin on Saturday, which also marked the anniversary of her mother Annie's death.
Denise's dad had gallbladder removal surgery but there had been a few problems, just days after she broke down on Loose Women, saying that "life is tough".
An emotional Denise wrote: "So today I'm 63. But although things are tough at the minute I feel physically and mentally stronger than I have for years."
Denise continued: "I’ve never been so busy work wise, I’m looking after myself, exercising regularly and have been 20 months without a visit from 'the unwelcome visitor', the longest in 32 yrs without a major depressive episode.
"I don't know what the reason is to be honest but I'm just very grateful.
"But of course today May 22nd is also the anniversary of my mum Annie’s death so it’s always bittersweet.
"I miss her every day and would love her to have lived to have seen how my sobriety has changed my life and the lives of those who love me."
Denise added: "I also wish she’d known Lincoln and known that he would look after me and keep me safe. Debbie and I are so lucky to have the parents we have had.'
Speaking about her dad's hospitalisation, Denise wrote: "To those asking after our dad, the legend that is Vin Welch, thank you.
"After months of no appetite and extreme weight loss, he has had complications after very difficult gallbladder removal surgery and has been very poorly indeed. But he is the most amazing man and is slowly making his comeback.
"I’m spending my birthday today with him in hospital and will tell him about all the love for him that has poured in.
"He’s had postoperative delirium which I’d never heard of before and is more common than I thought and I’m looking further into. It’s been a tough few weeks for my family but I’m grateful for them all."
Denise ended her message with: "I must also today send so much love to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the Manchester arena bombing 4 yrs ago today and those who are still living with the mental scars."
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