Former Coronation Street star Faye Brookes has paid tribute to the strength of her 'Viking warrior' mum as she revealed that she has been battling bowel cancer. Faye, 34, who played Kate Connor in Corrie, took to Instagram to share a landmark in her mum Inger Barber's journey.
The screen and stage star shared a joyous video on Instagram of the moment Inger marked the end of her chemotherapy treatment. A smiling Inger was cheered and applauded by hospital staff as she read out a poem and sounded a bell.
"I can’t believe I’m actually sharing this with you all but it only seems right to celebrate this unbelievable moment today!" Faye wrote. "Our Viking Warrior, Our Guardian Angel, Our Absolute Rockstar of a Mum…. Inger Barber. I love you 10/05/22 is a day we’ll never forget."
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Faye, who played Kate the daughter of Johnny, sister of Aidan and half-sister of Carla Connor in the ITV soap until 2019, says her mother's diagnosis was an 'earth shattering' moment for the family. "Let me take you back to last October 2021," she explained.
"My mother ended up in hospital. After multpile tests, several doctors, blood samples & stressful, sleepless nights they diagnosed her with bowel cancer. It was an earth shattering moment for all of us.
"I cannot begin to tell you how much I admire this lady. I am everything I am today because of her. I can’t imagine my life without you mama.
"Inger Barber is the glue that holds our family together. We of course feared the worse …but mum being mum she was determined to fight and she did!!!"
Faye, who touring as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago, continued: "I decided to keep this chapter of our lives private not just for my mother’s sake but for ours too. We didn’t know what to prepare ourselves for. But today was the day she rang the bell!"
And she added: "We know it’s not the end of our mama’s journey @ingerbarber is still very much continuing to get herself better. But today was the day she had Chemotherapy for the last time!
"So if you can take a second whilst you’re reading this to remember what is truly important? Count your blessings. Know that you are loved and whatever life throws your way, you can and you will fight!"
To mark Mother's Day in March she shared a photo of her mum as she wrote: "I was so content being by my mothers side yesterday just celebrating her and all of her wonderfulness.
"Her magical energy is infectious and anyone who knows my mum know that she is a force to be reckoned with. I am the woman I am today because of you @ingerbarber you raised me to be independent, strong, kind and everything in between.
"You’re my guardian Angel when I lose my way and my biggest cheerleader when I’m living out my dream. You truly are one in a million. Don’t ever change. We love you Ingrid!"
