Former ITV broadcaster Fiona Phillips has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the age of 62 and has candidly opened up about spotting the first symptom before it was formally confirmed by her doctor.
And now her husband, This Morning boss Martin Frizell, has recalled the moment that the couple first sat down to the news they had been dreading, and admitted that the diagnosis last year came as a shock to them both.
Fiona explained to the Mirror that she is on a trial drug that Martin injects into her stomach, which could slow the progression down or reverse her condition if it ends up being successful.
During the interview, the couple discussed their first reactions to finding out about Fiona's diagnosis and how they coped with what came afterwards after, admitting she was living in fear of the condition both her parents and uncle also suffered from.
But the then 61-year-old didn't expect to be diagnosed with the heartbreaking disease until she was in her 80s and hopes she is able to help discover a cure for the crippling brain disorder that can make the simplest of tasks most challenging.
"I just felt sick," her husband Martin explained. "We both sat in silence. There was no funny line to make this go away. Nothing smart to say. Nothing. And then the doctor said he'd leave us in the room alone for a bit to digest it all. We just looked at each other and said: 'S**t. What are we going to do?'"
Fiona adds: "It was the shock. Total shock. And then we said to each other... 'Shall we go and have a drink?' so that's what we did. In fact, we've now become locals at the pub on the square by the hospital!"
Puzzled with where to go and what to do next, they were encouraged to live life as normal but what exactly can be classed as 'normal' for an illness with no cure?
"The doctor had said it was very early stages so we just had to go home and try to live our life as normal for now," says Martin. "That was all we could do."
Before being diagnosed, Fiona had been suffering from symptoms such as brain fog and anxiety which she and her husband Martin believed was part of the menopause.
Many of Fiona's pals from the TV industry sent well-wishes to her, including former colleague Lorraine Kelly.
On Twitter late last night, Lorraine retweeted the article from the Mirror announcing the news and wrote: "As expected our much loved Fiona is dealing with this shattering diagnosis with courage and optimism.
"She’s a good kind soul and I pray the treatment works and results in a massive breakthrough for everyone dealing with this hellish disease. Sending her and her family all my love."
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