Christine McGuinness has described the emotional moment this year when she saw her heroin clean dad stand up unaided for the first time and walk over to give her a hug.
The TV star said she initially panicked and went to help him, because she’d previously only ever seen him slumped over a walking stick, being held up, or in a wheelchair.
She said suddenly she was pleasantly shocked to see a tall strapping man walking normally towards her for the first time in her life. Johnny, 62, had been battling heroin addiction for 40 years, since before Christine, 36, was born, until finally kicking the drug this year.
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Describing the emotional moment it hit home he was now free of the drugs, Christine said: “The first time I’ve seen my dad clean properly was this year, and he stood up and walked towards me for a hug.
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
“And I’ve never seen him just stand up unaided before. It just took me back a bit and I panicked a bit and went ‘Are you ok?’ and went to hold him, because wherever I’ve seen him before I’ve had to hold him or get a walking stick or he’s been in a wheelchair.”
She, added: “There was just this big, strong man standing in front of me, and I kind of couldn’t believe what I was seeing. He’s 16 stone, he’s about 5ft 11. He was always slumped over and quite weak before
(Image: mrscmcguinness)
“It was like looking at a brand new person. He’s always had his personality, but now it’s just so much better. And he’s so happy – that’s the best thing. I love that he’s healthy, but seeing him just really, really happy is amazing.
“He’s in his sixties now and hopefully he’s got a good few years left in him and he can enjoy life. I love seeing him, we laugh so much more, we talk a lot more.”
(Image: mrscmcguinness)
Asked by podcast host Spencer Matthews what she’d found hardest about her father’s addiction, she said: “Seeing other people with their mums and dads. So even just on parents’ evenings mine was always just my mum. Father’s Day, never ever done a Fathers’ Day card. Christmases obviously, no dad around.” Asked how her mother now feels about her dad’s recovery and new relationship with her, Christine said it was all “positive”.
Big Fish with Spencer Matthews is available on Global Player
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
