‘I really struggled as I was reliving it’: Kelsey Parker reveals she ‘developed a tic’ after losing husband Tom to a brain tumour as she discusses battle with anxiety on anniversary of his death
Kelsey Parker has revealed that she ‘developed a tic’ after losing her husband Tom to a brain tumour last year.
The actress, 33, admitted that the anxiety brought on by the one year anniversary of his death caused the disorder.
Her husband, who starred in band The Wanted, was diagnosed with the inoperable brain tumour glioblastoma in 2020 and died 18 months later.
Speaking on Loose Women on Friday, Kelsey admitted that March ‘had been hard’ on her as she faced the the end of her first year without him and ‘relived’ the event.
She explained: ‘March has been so hard for me. I had so much anxiety when it was the anniversary of his death.’
Awful: Kelsey Parker, 33, has revealed that she ‘developed a tic’ after losing her husband Tom to a brain tumour last year
Tough: The actress admitted that the anxiety brought on by the one year anniversary of his death caused the disorder (pictured with daughter Aurelia, three, and son Bodhi, two)
Kelsey added: ‘At the beginning at March I just started clearing my throat all the time, we had my birthday, mother’s day and a year since we lost Tom.’
The NHS describes tics as fast, repetitive muscle movements that result in sudden and difficult-to-control body jolts or involuntary sounds. Common examples include blinking, grimacing, sudden jerks, and repetitive sounds or phrases.
‘Last month, I wasn’t positive. I really, really struggled last month. It’s tough. Like I said there’s no rule book,’ she explained.
‘The boy’s [Tom’s bandmates] are in touch. They are great. Siva did the tribute on Dancing On Ice and I got to take the kids to that.’
Kelsey and Tom married in 2018 and had a 13-year relationship before his tragic death, they share two children, a daughter Aurelia, three, and son Bodhi, two.
Getting choked up, she continued: ‘You’re reliving the death. When I hear the music and see Tom and I just can’t believe I’m never going to see him again. It breaks my heart.’
She heartbreakingly said: ‘The whole time Bodhi was going that’s my dad. It is heartbreaking. My kids are now two and three without a dad.
Kelsey expressed how fast the year had gone admitting that she was in ‘complete shock’ for the first six to eight months.
Anxiety: Kelsey explained: ‘At the beginning at March I just started clearing my throat all the time, we had my birthday, mother’s day and a year since we lost Tom’
Difficult: Getting choked up, she continued: ‘You’re reliving the death. When I hear the music and see Tom and I just can’t believe I’m never going to see him again. It breaks my heart’
Reflecting: Kelsey expressed how fast the year had gone admitting that she was in ‘complete shock’ for the first six to eight months
Speaking of their children, she added: ‘Their lives it’s not normal for them, Aurelia asks me why her best friend has got a dad and she hasn’t. It’s really difficult being a solo parent.
‘To be honest you have got a dad, your dad not’s here though dad. What else can I say to her?’
On the anniversary of his death, Kelsey posted a touching image taken shortly before he went on tour with The Wanted for the final time, as she kisses her wheelchair-bound husband on the cheek.
She accompanied her post with a tear-jerking caption about celebrating her birthday without him for the first time, describing it as yet ‘another first’ following his loss.
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