Actress Holly Matthews reveals her husband has lost his fight with cancer
In some sad news today, former Doctors star Holly Matthews revealed her husband and father of her two daughters, Ross Blair, has passed away.
The actress told The Coventry Telegraph that Ross died on Saturday in a hospice after being diagnosed with cancer three years previously.
“On Saturday July 29, just as the final whistle was blowing for the end of Saturday football, my incredible husband took his last breath,” she said.
“He was surrounded by me, his mum (Dionne Blair), dad (Andy Blair) and sister (Ashley Blair), peacefully and with the support of the incredible Myton Hospice staff.
“The loss we are feeling is unfathomable right now and breaking the news to my daughters was extremely tough, but we are supporting each other and taking it one step at a time”.
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The couple have two daughters, Brooke, aged six and Texas, aged four, according to The Metro. In 2014, Ross was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour and given a 50/50 chance of surviving five years.
The brave dad underwent brain surgery twice, chemotherapy and radiotherapy in an effort to beat his disease.
He underwent an operation to remove 75 percent of the tumour last August but suffered a seizure after returning from a family holiday.
His health deteriorated rapidly afterwards and he was moved to Myton Hospice last month.
Recently Holly posted a heartbreaking update on her husband’s condition on her Instagram page, revealing her feelings about his impending death.
“He's now in a deep sleep, not eating, drinking, or conscious of his surroundings, but his strong body is fighting for him and sadly at this stage it is kind of working against him.
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“He's comfortable and looks peaceful and we have all accepted that he will go, when he goes and we have no control over that.
“What a f*cked up reality to be waiting for one of the people you love most in the whole world to die and even hoping that it will come soon. That is a weird space to be in, but a space that I and his family are living in”.
Holly is now fundraising for Myton Hospice and has raised over £9,000 already. She explains on her fundraising page: “We had never really thought through what would happen when he got so sick, I could no longer take care of him. You just don't, do you?
“Unfortunately that has now happened and I write this from the bed next to my husband, in Myton Hospice.
“The dignity and love they have and continue to give my 32-year-old husband and the support for our family (especially our two young daughters) is incredible and this feels like the only way I am able to give back”.
Our thoughts are with Holly and her daughters at this sad time. If you would like to support her fundraiser, click here.