Kelsey Parker's followers quickly showed her with support as she marked her first birthday without her husband Tom. The singer, who shot to fame as one-fifth of boyband The Wanted, died in March 2022 after being diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma. He shared the news of his diagnosis with fans in October 2020 when Kelsey was pregnant with their second child, son Bodhi.
Kelsey has since shared her grief journey on social media and in the six-part documentary series, Kelsey Parker: Life After Tom, which aired on ITVBe at the end of last year. On Tuesday (March 7), the mum-of-two posted a heartbreaking tribute to her late husband as she opened up about spending her first birthday without him.
Taking to Instagram, she shared a bittersweet black and white image which was taken shortly before he went on tour with his The Wanted bandmates - Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness and Nathan Sykes - for what ended up being the final time. The photo showed Kelsey kissing her wheelchair-bound husband on the cheek.
"A year ago Tom was about to go on tour for the final time (not that we knew that)," the 32-year-old started to type in the caption. "I was filled with hope but also knew the tour would be gruelling; it was something he needed to do and for him I’m so happy he got to do it one more time.
"I didn’t think then that I’d be facing my first birthday without him. Another first. We’re almost done with firsts but I’m not sure that’s going to make any difference. This isn’t what we planned or hoped for but its where we are and we’re going with it, enjoying all we can and living the life we have.
Kelsey was then sent hundreds of heartfelt messages of love and support as well as birthday wishes before she later returned to the social media platform to share how she spent her dad. Beaming for a snap alongside Bodhi and her daughter, Aurelia, at home she said: "Happy birthday to me. A chilled day with my favourites. Thank you all for the birthday love."
And fans were quick to point out a heartwarming detail about the photo. @reeve3330 said: "Just looks like mini Tom in the middle. Happy birthday." @cyn.m.j commented: "The baby looks just like Tom. Enjoy ur Birthday." @melanie_kenny_iris_house_ wrote: "Wow Bodi is so like his daddy."
@becsm11 posted: "Can't believe how much Aurelia's cheeky little smile is like Tom.. Bodhi image too especially his eyes. Beautiful children. Sending love." On Valentine's Day, Kelsey shared a photo of her kissing Tom, who was just 33 when he passed away after battling the incomparable brain tumour, and reflected on how 'lucky' she was to have spent the last 13 Valentine's with her now-late husband and how different her life looks almost a year on.
"This time last year I was full of hope. We were in Spain where Tom was in daily therapy and he was the strongest and healthiest he’d been in a long time," Kelsey typed alongside the sweet snap. "I was lucky enough to spend Valentine’s and another 3 weeks just me and Tom. I never could have known how precious that time was or imagined the pain that was ahead of me and now, a year later, I’m facing the anniversary of a whole year without you Tom."
She went on to share how she had been contemplating 'if and what' to post on Valentine's Day. "My friend asked me what do I want to post and how do I feel? Everything I replied," Kelsey shared in the caption of her post. "I’m angry, sad, lonely, wishing more than anything that none of this happened to us.
"But it did and I’m grateful for the years we had, the love we shared and the babies we made. I’m so grateful for them. They bring me joy every single day. So this Valentine's I guess my message is that if you’re lucky enough to spend it with someone you love, cherish it. Soak it up. Reflect on the importance of your relationship, the love you feel for each other and remember to honour it. You are blessed. We’re all here to love and to be loved."
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