Rio Ferdinand has detailed his mum Janice’s heartbreaking battle with breast cancer before she passed away in July at the age of 58.
The former footballer, 38 – who also lost his wife Rebecca Ellison to the same disease in 2015 – has penned the distressing time in his upcoming biography, Thinking Out Loud: Love, Grief and Being Mum and Dad.
Rio admitted that it was his beloved mother who helped him get through the tragedy of losing Rebecca two years prior and also revealed he couldn’t bring himself to see her in her first few days in hospital earlier this summer.
Emotional: Rio Ferdinand, 38, has detailed his mum Janice’s heartbreaking battle with breast cancer before she passed away in July at the age of 58
In an extract obtained by The Sun, Rio, who is now in a romance with reality star Kate Wright, stated he felt like an ‘eight-year old boy and his coping mechanism was in denial.’
After being told her cancer, which she had previously beaten, had come back in June, she was admitted to hospital a few days later.
And so devastated by the news, Rio confessed: ‘I’m not proud to admit that for the first few days I could not bring myself to visit Mum in hospital,’ before revealing that it was because he couldn’t bare the thought of sitting in ‘another oncology ward and breathing in that same antiseptic smell.’
The passing of Janice was even more tragic given that she had been his rock when his wife, and mother of his three children, passed away from cancer in 2015.
Support system: Rio admitted that it was his beloved mother who helped him get through the tragedy of losing his wife Rebecca two years prior and also revealed he couldn’t bring himself to see her in her first few days
Heartbreak: In an extract obtained by The Sun, Rio, who is now in a romance with reality star Kate Wright, stated he felt like an ‘eight-year old boy and his coping mechanism was in denial’
Before she tragically passed, Rio recalled: ‘In my head all I could hear were my frantic pleas for a divine reprieve. “Please, no, not my mum. Anyone but Mum.” She was the only reason I survived losing Rebecca.’
Janice St Forth passed away at the age of 58 after losing her battle to breast cancer in July.
A statement issued by Rio and the family at the time nodded to Mrs St Fort’s role in helping the former footballer through the loss of his wife, saying: ‘Our mum was the centre and the heart of our family and has supported us all through many difficult times, always with a smile on her face.’
His mother featured in his documentary BBC’s Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad earlier this year and provided strength for Rio who struggled bravely with the responsibility of raising his children without their mother being around.
‘Breathing in that same antiseptic smell’: After being told her cancer, which she had previously beaten, had come back in June, she was admitted to hospital a few days later but he couldn’t bring himself to visit her
Before she tragically passed, Rio recalled: ‘In my head all I could hear were my frantic pleas for a divine reprieve. “Please, no, not my mum. Anyone but Mum.” She was the only reason I survived losing Rebecca’
Meanwhile, Rio’s book also details the grief and horror he endured after losing wide Rebecca Ellison when she was just 34
The former England captain explained that he is now glad that he can show emotion more easily and openly than before Rebecca died.
He added: ‘Being able to cry makes me feel more alive, and for that I am profoundly grateful.’
Rio went on to describe how he worries most about his eldest child, Lorenz, 11, who is more insular than his younger siblings Tate, nine, and Tia, six.
Rebecca and Rio married in 2009 and she was first diagnosed with cancer in 2014.
She appeared to be free from the disease after treatment, but a scan early in 2015 revealed it had returned and spread to her bones.
Doting dad: Rio has alos described how he worries most about his eldest child, Lorenz, 11, who is more insular than his younger siblings Tate, nine, and Tia, six
Found love again: The sportsman confirmed his romance with reality star Kate Wright, 26, in July after weeks of swirling rumours they were an item
Rebecca died just five weeks later on May 1.
The sportsman confirmed his romance with reality star Kate Wright, 26, in July after weeks of swirling rumours they were an item.
The pair have since been spotted on a number of outings together, and spent a sun-soaked holiday in Portugal together in August with Rio’s family.
And the pair are reportedly on track to ‘make millions’ after merging their brands.
Branding guru Marcel Knobil told the Daily Star: With Rio linking up with Betfair and launching a boxing career, it makes sense for him to want Kate in his corner.
‘The people who rep for Rio will definitely be very much aware of the benefits of mixing his status as a football hero with a beautiful woman.’
Joining forces: Rio and Kate are reportedly on track to ‘make millions’ after merging their brands