Dame Deborah James has opened up in praise of her father as she also comes to terms with not being able to see her son become a dad.
The terminally ill BBC broadcaster, campaigner and charity fundraiser, 40, who is receiving end-of-life care, has spoken to The Sun in a Father’s Day interview.
Deborah, who has two children – Hugo, 14 and Eloise, 12 – with her husband Seb, said: “For me, this year it’s about my dad and Seb, but it’s also about the men in my life who will hopefully one day be fathers too, my son and brother.”
“I can’t really comprehend the fact I won’t be here to see that. It breaks me.
“The biggest thing for me right now, not knowing how long I have left, is that the kids will be OK.”
Deborah, who co-hosted the podcast You, Me and the Big C, went on to praise her husband as a “great father,” saying that he is incredible with their two children.
She also revealed that he is “going to have a whisky or two” with her father Alistair — who she calls her “unsung hero”.
The campaigner also powerfully reached out to everyone affected by her story this Father’s Day, advising them that: “I’ve not always been a big one for telling Dad how much I love him, so take it from me, just say it.
“You never know when it might be your last chance.”
Deborah, then a well respected deputy head teacher, was just 35 years old when she was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in December 2016, which went on to become stage 4.
Deborah, who in May announced that she had moved to palliative care and may have had just days to live, revealed this week that she had already outlived the life expectancy diagnosis she’d received from the hospital.
Despite her condition, the campaigner has been able to enjoy a day out at Royal Ascot with her brother, has had a home visit from the Duke of Cambridge and has also continued to inspire fun raising in to bowl cancer research.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
