Jonnie Irwin says he has bought 18th birthday presents for his three young sons - more than a decade before the special occasions. He shared the details in a new interview as he updated fans on his tragic cancer battle.
He was initially diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in August 2020, after doctors told him the disease had spread to his brain. Now, almost three years on, Jonnie is planning for his children and wife's futures 'for the days he won't be there', reports Chronicle Live.
The former face of A Place in the Sun, 49, shares his three boys Rex, three, and twins Rafa and Cormac, two, with his wife Jessica Holmes. And he said he had already purchased three incredibly special gifts for his sons, which will be handed over when they each celebrate their milestone marks.
The Mirror reports that opening up in a new interview, Jonnie updated fans on his tragic cancer battle - sharing his heartbreak of knowing that he won't be around to see his three boys grow. What pains him the most, is the thought that Rex, Rafa and Cormac won't remember him due to their very young ages.
Speaking to HELLO! Magazine, he said: "It pains me to think the twins probably won't remember me. You hear people say: 'I don't remember my dad. He died when I was so young'. I think about that and it breaks my heart because that's what I'm destined to be, really - a footnote in their life. So I try to [leave] monuments of my love for them."
One of the monuments that Jonnie secured is the home he bought 18 months ago - with he and Jessica moving their family from Hertfordshire to Newcastle, so they could be closer to Jess's family. Buying the property outright, Jonnie wanted to ensure that his family wouldn't have to pay a mortgage or worry about repaying borrowed money to banks.
He also hopes that it will be a 'cool' and 'loving' place for his three youngsters to grow up with their mum, surrounded by family. Discussing the prospect of death, Jonnie added: "It can happen at any time. I’m here to stop it for as long as possible."
Jonnie initially opted to go public with his condition to get the 'monkey off' his back in November last year. The presenter was filming a TV project in Italy back in 2020 when his vision become blurred at the wheel, prompting him to seek medical attention.
Tests later confirmed that Jonnie had developed lung cancer, which had sadly spread to his brain. Speaking in his latest interview, the father of three admitted that he hasn't revealed the heart-breaking news to his three sons as of yet, citing how it would 'confuse' them.
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