‘I thought I had more time’: Felicity Palmateer reveals why she stayed on Australian Survivor: Brains V Brawn despite her mother’s tragic death
Felicity Palmateer has revealed why she stayed on Australian Survivor: Brains V Brawn despite learning of her mother’s death while on the show.
The 28-year-old was told by producers during Monday’s episode that her mother had passed away.
Her mum, Pauline Burggraaf, was 52-year-old and suffering from Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD).
Tragic: Felicity Palmateer has revealed why she stayed on Australian Survivor: Brains V Brawn despite learning of her mother’s death. Pictured with her late mother Pauline Burggraaf
Frontotemporal dementia occurs when nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain are lost, and causes personality changes, as well as language and movement difficulty.
Pauline had been struggling with the illness for six years prior to her death and Felicity didn’t think she would succumb while she was away.
‘I honestly thought I had more time,’ Felicity told The Daily Telegraph on Monday.
Loss: The 28-year-old was told by producers during Monday’s episode that her mother had passed away. Her mum, Pauline Burggraaf, was 52-year-old and suffering from Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
Time: ‘I honestly thought I had more time,’ Felicity told The Daily Telegraph on Monday. ‘My mum had been living with FTD for years… I thought she had at least another year’
‘My mum had been living with FTD for years. She had deteriorated so quickly in the last few years – she was in a wheelchair, she couldn’t speak and was living in a high-care facility – but I thought she had at least another year.’
Felicity added that her brothers encouraged her to stay on the show.
‘Luke and Alex were so supportive and really encouraged me to stay. If it wasn’t for them telling me to stay, it would have been incredibly hard. And I just wanted to do her proud,’ she told the paper.
Family: Felicity added that her brothers encouraged her to stay on the show. ‘Luke and Alex were so supportive and really encouraged me to stay. If it wasn’t for them telling me to stay, it would have been incredibly hard. And I just wanted to do her proud,’ she told the paper. Pictured together as children
In an Instagram post shared on Monday night, Felicity paid tribute to her mother, writing alongside throwback images: ‘My Mum has been one of my biggest inspirations and the very reason that I do anything in life.
‘She taught me more than she would ever know, she still continues to teach me things even though now she’s gone. She taught me how to be strong, caring and resilient and to how live care free.
‘She passed her creativity onto me, something that now brings me so much joy. Mum, you should be so proud of the children that you raised as we are of you.
In an Instagram post shared on Monday night, Felicity paid tribute to her mother, writing alongside a throwback images: ‘My Mum has been one of my biggest inspirations and the very reason that I do anything in life’
She went on: ‘You’re free now Mum and there’s no more suffering, where ever you are now must be a really magic place. I will continue to live for you Mum, it’s not right that you aren’t here. I love you and miss you’
‘I wish I had more time with you on this earth. You were taken way too soon.
‘You’re free now Mum and there’s no more suffering, where ever you are now must be a really magic place. I will continue to live for you Mum, it’s not right that you aren’t here. I love you and miss you’.
Felicity is a professional surfer from Perth, Western Australia and in 2016 competed in the Pe’ahi Women’s Challenge in Maui.