Kelsey Parker has shared a simple message on the first anniversary of her husband Tom Parker's death. The singer died on March 30, 2022, at the age of 33 after a battle with terminal brain cancer glioblastoma. He shared the news of his diagnosis with fans in October 2020 when Kelsey was pregnant with their second child, son Bodhi.
Following Tom's tragic death, Kelsey has shared her grief journey in the six-part documentary series, Kelsey Parker: Life After Tom, which aired on ITVBe at the end of last year. It followed Kelsey and her two children, daughter Aurelia, three, and Bodhi, two, as she navigates their life after the death of her husband and their dad.
Marking the anniversary of Tom's death, Kelsey took to Instagram with a gorgeous picture of the pair. "One year without you," she simply typed alongside a red heart. "Forever my soul mate," the mum-of-two added.
The message was then flooded with responses from celebrities and fans alike. Former reality star Ashley Cain said: "Sending love and strength Kelsey." Singer Josh Cuthbert commented: "Sending you soooo much love Kelsey." @rachelhardypr wrote: "A year that feels like a second and likewise a lifetime. Hope he brings you signs that fill your hear."
@katespedds replied: "Sending you so much love and strength!!" @alexandriamerry_ echoed: "Sending so much love and strength to you today and always." @charlottelouhart shared: "He will forever be proud of you and his beautiful babies." @elaine_crispin added: "Sending strength and courage true love never dies."
Kelsey has also returned to one of the most treasured places that she visited with Tom and their children a year on from his tragic death. Doting mum Kelsey was joined by their children at their beloved Broadstairs beach in Kent, a place that meant so much to her and Tom, from Bolton.
The 33-year-old said: "It’s the last holiday that we had. Me, Tom and our best friends Kelsey and Dean used to always go on holidays together. We took the kids here and Tom just loved it. We were looking to buy a property down here. And I just think it’s good for your heart to be down by the coast and the sea."
Kelsey told OK! Magazine that she's 'living for today' following their tragic loss. "I’m just miserable, but I know that there will be happiness at some point," she said. "I don’t look to the future as I never thought this was going to be my future.
"I just live for today as that’s all I’ve got. My future was sitting on the beach in Broadstairs with Tom in our eighties eating our fish and chips together. But it’s been taken away from me."
Kesley has also unveiled a permanent tribute to her husband and their children in the form of a tattoo. She has acquired three innings with one showing a thinly-drawn phoenix on her left side to represent rising up from adversity, with a star overhead, which Kelsey explained is symbolic of Tom, 'because he always is our star'.
In the bird's heart, tiny letters read 'hope', because "that’s all we have & had", Kelsey said, while two butterflies flap around the scene, which Kelsey said are their children 'Rae and Bo'. "I used to send Tom a quote about a Phoenix to encourage him to rise up," Kelsey began in the caption of the video showing off her new tattoos.
She went on: "This past year has shown me whatever happens I can rise up. So I wanted to get this tattoo for all of us… " before explaining the symbolic meaning of the tattoo’s other parts: "Hope because that’s all we have & had, 2 Butterflies for Rae and Bo and now that Tom is flying with them. And a Star because he always is our star."
Kelsey then thanked @indi_inkz for the ‘incredible detail’ of the fine work as she also uncovered two further tattoos which simply read the names of her children, one on each of her inner arms.
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