Picture via Instagram
Simon Thomas, who has been a presenter on Sky Sports for twelve years, lost his wife Gemma to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) yesterday evening. She was only 40 years old.
The couple has a son together, eight-year-old Ethan. The 44-year-old father asked people to pray for his little boy.
The former Blue Peter presenter informed his nearly 150K Twitter followers of his tragic loss today.
Today I am crushed with indescribable pain. Just three days after falling ill with Acute Myloid Leukaemia, my dear wife Gemma passed away yesterday evening surrounded by her family and friends. If you are a prayer - pray for my boy Ethan. 8yrs, precious and in bits. Thank you.
— Simon Thomas (@SimonThomasSky) 25 November 2017
AML, a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, typically affects older people in their mid-60s to mid-70s. It is relatively uncommon, with the disease making up 1.2 percent of cancer deaths in the U.S.
According to the Mirror Online, Gemma felt sick last weekend and was simply told to take tablets and rest after visiting the doctor three times.
The mum continued to feel poorly and was diagnosed with AML 12 hours after her last visit to the doctor. She was treated at the Churchill Hospital, and Simon praised the specialists there as an 'incredible team'.
On Tuesday, Gemma began chemotherapy, and despite initially faring well, her husband was told on Friday morning that the mother of his child had only hours left to live.
The former BBC presenter told the Mirror Online, “My little boy had a little time with her but she wasn't able to speak to him. She passed away just before 6pm last night.”
Simon shared that his son’s only Christmas wish is to have his ‘mummy back’.
People have sent on their condolences to the heartbroken father and his family via Twitter.
“There are no words. So sorry to hear my friend. Hold him close,” said BBC presenter Dan Walker.
One follower tweeted, “Ethan will carry on with his mummy in his heart.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with Simon and his family.
