Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian, who appeared in the Channel 4 soap between 2001 and 2007, has opened up about the grief she’s dealing with following the death of her mum
Hollyoaks star Alia Bastian has been hit with a heartbreaking family death.
The 43-year-old soap star recently announced she was “cancer-free” after undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a successful mastectomy in January. She had been diagnosed with stage two breast cancer last year.
In November 2024, she told fans she’d been hospitalised at Cork University Hospital as she needed urgent medical attention. However, she confirmed she’d returned home and thanked the hospital staff for “taking care” of her.
Ali, who played Becca Dean on Hollyoaks between 2001 and 2007, has now opened up about the grief she’s dealing with after the heartbreaking loss of her “beautiful” mum in 2023. It came just months before her cancer diagnosis.
She posted a sweet snap of her with her mum at her wedding and told fans: “I wrote this on Mother’s Day but didn’t end up posting, but here goes…. TW grief. We lost our beautiful Mum in the autumn of ‘23, only a few months before my diagnosis.
“A sudden death after a short terrible illness. Impossible to make sense of. Grief, I attempted to put on hold whilst I managed a gruelling treatment regime now comes in waves, sometimes crashing, sometimes tidal, rarely gentle… but I try to go gently with myself as I navigate life after cancer and life without you.”
She continued: “I love you Mum, always and forever. Days like today are so complicated… letting in all the love from my little people and loving them back with all my might whilst the child within me longs for your arms wrapped tight around me. I hope you are watching over us Mum and I hope we are making you proud.”
She was inudndated with messages of support from her followers, including one who wrote: “I admire your great strength and courage Ali. Your mums spirit is here with you and your family. Sending love always.”
Another commented: “This is beautiful and so are you and your Mum and I’m sure she’s so proud of you xx”. A third added: “Thinking of you.”
Ali confirmed she was cancer-free just a few weeks ago. She wrote: “Thank you so much for all your birthday messages last week, I’m honestly so grateful for all the love and support from my little corner of social media.
“I wanted to update you all. I’m on to my final week of radiotherapy, which should mark the end of my active treatment — I hope and pray for good! I had my mastectomy in January, which was thankfully a success and has healed really well. It proved that my chemo had worked.
“As I sit here right now, I’m free from cancer. I can’t even believe it.” She went on to thank the “incredible” staff at Cork University Hospital for providing her with such great care during her cancer treatment.
Ali continued: “The nurses have given me compassion, time, and space to share and talk about my experience of a very challenging treatment pathway — one that, although we thank God exists, is not only a lot for the body to process but an awful lot to process mentally and emotionally.”
She wanted to praise one member of staff in particular – Stef – who serves tea to chemotherapy patients. Ali said “you make an incredible difference to a lonely journey.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
