Siân Welby has admitted that she’s ‘heartbroken’ by the fact that she and her beloved father Ian ‘will become strangers’ as he continues to battle vascular dementia.
The Capital FM star, 37, previously shared that her father Ian, 84, had been diagnosed with the disease despite overcoming ‘awful’ battles with leukemia and Covid.
And now Sian has admitted that it is ‘heartbreaking’ to think he might forget his own children as the disease progresses, and he’s already lost his ‘independence and identity.’
Appearing on Thursday’s This Morning alongside hosts Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle, Sian shared a video of her and her dad as she candidly explained: ‘We know there is no cure and it will progressively get worse. I literally take everyday as it comes.
‘I think the devastating thing about Alzheimer’s is that it’s one of the cruellest diseases because you are losing their personality and eventually you will become strangers.’
Siân Welby, 37, has admitted that she’s ‘heartbroken’ by the fact that she and her beloved father Ian ‘will become strangers’ as he continues to battle vascular dementia
The Capital FM star, 37, previously shared that her father Ian, 84, had been diagnosed with vascular dementia after overcoming ‘awful’ battles with leukemia and Covid
Discussing her dad’s condition, she continued: ‘He relies on others a lot more and not only did this mean he lost his independence but he lost his identity.’
Talking about the disease she admitted: ‘It does creep on you, he would go the shed and forget why he went and it gets worse and sometimes he forgets completely why he is there.’
‘He needed to feel like a dad again. He at one point lost his role as dad because we were doing everything. He couldn’t drive, couldn’t make dinner or do the shopping or fix the car or do anything he normally did.’
‘The thought of someone like your own dad not knowing who you are and that you might walk into a room and he’ll say “Do I know you?” is so possible, that it’s heartbreaking’.
‘I am trying not to miss my old dad but embrace this new dad that I have to be a bit more patient with and make him feel like he still can be my dad.’
She added: ‘It is a confusing experience, because sometimes you can almost forget he has it, and other times it is so obvious.’
Siân previously explained Ian ‘no longer has any short-term memory’ in a new interview with OK! earlier this month.
The star revealed that Ian struggles to remember daily occurrences, but added she’s ‘lucky’ that he still recognises her.
Appearing on Thursday’s This Morning, Sian shared a video of her and her dad as she candidly explained: ‘I think the devastating thing about Alzheimer’s is that it’s one of the cruellest diseases because you are losing their personality and eventually you will become strangers’
She added: ‘I am trying not to miss my old dad but embrace this new dad that I have to be a bit more patient with and make him feel like he still can be my dad’
Sian joined hosts Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle as well as Consultant Neurologist Dr Catherine Mummery as Craig also confessed he lost his dad to dementia three years ago
She added that she still hopes Ian will walk her down the aisle when she marries radio producer Jake Beckett next year.
She said: ‘If someone calls, he puts the phone down and can’t remember who it was. If mum pops out to the shops, he can’t remember when she left – or when she’s coming back.’
Sian added that during Ian’s battles with cancer and Covid, his weight plummeted to six stone, and his family feared he may need to move into a care home.
Because of Ian’s ill health, Sian said that getting married abroad would be impossible, with several members of her family unable to travel.
She also shared her dad’s pride watching her hosting debut on This Morning last month, which was praised by viewers.
She said: ‘At one point, we were told he might never get out of bed again – he’s since been on a ride-on lawnmower and done the garden!’
Asked whether Ian will be able to walk her down the aisle, she said: ‘That would be the dream… That’s what made me cry when Jake and I got engaged, I think. I was thinking, maybe dad will actually be involved. Maybe, he’ll actually see me get married.’
During her This Morning hosting stint last month, Sian confirmed her father is battling vascular dementia while hosting a segment on the degenerative condition.
Discussing the incurable condition, she said: ‘It’s one of the most devastating, my dad’s going through it, he has vascular dementia.
‘You’re scared to lose a person that you know, it is quite frightening! Like you say, would I want to take a test knowing I could be susceptible to it?
‘It’s hard to know! I don’t know if I want to know, is ignorance bliss? But then again, if I could do something about it?’
Sian, who has been praised for ‘bringing fun back’ to the beleaguered ITV flagship, was on hand to discuss a revolutionary new blood test that can detect Alzheimer’s disease during its initial stages.
The presenter admitted Ian is one of more than 900,000 people currently living with dementia across the United Kingdom.
In 2022 she admitted harboring fears for her elderly father after he contracted COVID-19 following his cancer diagnosis.
Ian’s health seriously declined after suffering from sepsis and pneumonia in both lungs.
His weight dropped to six and a half stone during a seven-week stint in hospital – with Welby fearing the worst.
In 2022 she admitted harboring fears for her elderly father after he contracted COVID-19 following his cancer diagnosis
The star revealed that Ian struggles to remember daily occurrences, but added she’s ‘lucky’ that he still recognises her
When he showed signs of improvement, she shared sweet snaps with her father on Instagram and wrote: ‘Doctors have said it’s nothing short of a miracle.
‘My dad has leukemia and then got COVID, which lead to sepsis, pneumonia in both lungs and got to the point where he couldn’t eat, walk or talk. He’s spent the last 7 weeks in hospital, and there was a chance he’d never come home.
‘I posted the second photo on my insta story last week after I was finally able to hug him and was flooded with positive messages from all of you.
‘I just want to say thank-you for all your kind words. So much positivity was sent his way and literally the day after I had a text from my mum saying he had got out of bed. It’s incredible.’
She added: ‘I believe in the power of positive thoughts and seriously feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I’m back home and my dad’s out of hospital!! He’s making an incredible recovery, the doctors can’t believe it!!
‘What an amazing day… I’ve showed him all your messages and he’s got a tear in his eye – he’s asked me to print them all off so he can read them again when I’m not here’
‘I just want to add, if you’re going through anything similar I truly send you all love in the world. Even when you feel totally helpless.
‘Tell them you love them, hold their hand, hug them if you can. Be that positive voice repeatedly telling them to fight and if they can’t fight anymore, just tell them happy stories from their past.’
If you are affected by dementia, worried about a diagnosis or a carer contact Alzheimer’s Society on 03331503456 or visit their website at https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological disorders
A GLOBAL CONCERN
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (those affecting the brain) which impact memory, thinking and behaviour.
There are many types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.
Some people may have a combination of different types of dementia.
Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person will experience dementia in their own unique way.
Dementia is a global concern but it is most often seen in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live into very old age.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?
The Alzheimer’s Society reports there are more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK today. This is projected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 per cent of those diagnosed.
In the US, it’s estimated there are 5.5 million Alzheimer’s sufferers. A similar percentage rise is expected in the coming years.
As a person’s age increases, so does the risk of them developing dementia.
Rates of diagnosis are improving but many people with dementia are thought to still be undiagnosed.
IS THERE A CURE?
Currently there is no cure for dementia.
But new drugs can slow down its progression and the earlier it is spotted, the more effective treatments can be.
Source: Alzheimer’s Society
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