Former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips has been sent thousands of messages of support after she publicly revealed that she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Last night, the 62-year-old revealed that she was told she has the disease which has also affected her mother, father and that she is currently being looked after by her husband, This Morning boss Martin Frizell.
Many of Fiona's pals from the TV industry sent well-wishes to her, including former colleague Lorraine Kelly.
On Twitter late last night, Lorraine retweeted the article from the Mirror announcing the news and 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."
And many fans of Lorraine's agreed with her tweet and flocked to the comments to send their love to Fiona.
One penned: "Amazing lady one of my all time favourite presenters."
Another wrote: "Very very sad news. My Grandpa died in 2005 of Alzheimer's and my Gran in 2020. Thinking of Fiona her husband and family. It's heartbreaking. Fiona is an amazing lady and very much missed on ITV Breakfast xxxx."
While one said: "It’s incredibly brave of Fiona Phillips to open up about her Alzheimer’s diagnosis at the age of just 61.
"I’ve attached her interview with The Mirror in the next tweet, and please don’t forget if you or a loved one need support a great place to start is."
Fiona opened up in an exclusive interview with the Mirror and said that she received the diagnosis a year ago after suffering months of brain fog and anxiety.
Speaking to the Mirror's editor Alison Phillips, she said: "It’s something I might have thought I’d get at 80. But I was still only 61 years old.
"I felt more angry than anything else because this disease has already impacted my life in so many ways; my poor mum was crippled with it, then my dad, my grandparents, my uncle. It just keeps coming back for us."
Fiona, who is mum to Nat, aged 24, and Mackenzie, 21, hopes to raise awareness and reduce the stigma attached to the disease by telling her story.
She added: "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."
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