Tom Parker – who passed away this week following a battle with brain cancer aged 33 – gave a brave response when asked about not seeing his kids grow up.
The Wanted Singer heartbreakingly addressed his future following the diagnosis in a candid interview last year alongside his wife Kelsey, 32.
Tom opened up about telling their their two children, Aurelia, two, and Bodhi, one about his terminal illness and bravely said he would ‘fight’ it to see them grow up.
Sad: Tom Parker – who passed away this week following a battle with brain cancer aged 33 – gave a brave response when asked about not seeing his kids grow up
In an interview with OK! Magazine, Tom said: ‘No, because I’m going to be here, I’m going to fight this.’
Kelsey added: ‘We have to stay positive. The prognosis is based on much older people, as this usually affects those 50-plus.
‘Tom is a young, otherwise fit and healthy guy and he has a much better chance of fighting this and benefiting from some of the new treatments out there.’
The couple were also faced with the unfathomable decision whether to tell their kids about their dad’s illness.
Family: He opened up about sharing his terminal illness with their their two children, Aurelia, two, and Bodhi, one and bravely said he would ‘fight’ it to see them grow up
Tom continued: ‘I’m sure if there is a right point we will talk to her about it. She’s still so young, though.’
Kelsey – who married the singer in 2018 – added: ‘We were discussing this the other day and we said we will tell the kids, especially while Tom’s undergoing treatment.
‘When we came back from the appointment in King’s College, where we had everything confirmed, Aurelia was being such a minx.
‘We didn’t come in crying but she knew – she just picks up on moods.
‘She knows something is happening and that’s why I think you just have to be as normal as possible. We’ll explain more when she’s old enough to understand Daddy’s not well.’
In an interview with OK! Magazine , Tom said: ‘No, because I’m going to be here, I’m going to fight this.’
Tom passed away on Wednesday, surrounded by family and his fellow bandmates as he listened to the Oasis song Live Forever.
A close friend told The Sun: ‘You might have thought Tom would opt for something by The Wanted but Oasis’ Live Forever sums him up perfectly – he was a rockstar and that’s how he wants to be remembered.’
In September 2021, 11 months on from his diagnosis, Tom sang at the Stand Up 2 Cancer show at the Royal Albert Hall and even embarked on a Greatest Hits tour with his bandmates when the tumour was confirmed as ‘stable’ in November.
Heartbreaking: The posts come following the death of The Wanted star aged 33, following a battle with brain cancer after he was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma in October 2020, and was given just 12 months to live by doctors
Heartfelt: In a lengthy caption Kelsey said she ‘couldn’t imagine life without his infectious smile and energetic presence’
But Tom’s condition deteriorated rapidly once the tour came to an end earlier this year.
‘Tom loved touring – he was an absolute rockstar and determined to join the boys on stage. He was enjoying playing two songs a night and was doing well performing but it really took it out of him,’ the source told The Sun.
‘We all noticed how quickly Tom deteriorated during the tour but he had no regrets – he really wanted to do it.’
Tragic: The singer’s death comes just one week after he revealed he was in the process of writing a tell-all memoir amid his battle with brain cancer
Kelsey said: ‘It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm Tom passed away peacefully earlier today with all of his family by his side.
‘Our hearts are broken. Tom was the centre of our world and we can’t imagine life without his infectious smile and energetic presence.
‘We are truly thankful for the outpouring of love and support and ask that we all unite to ensure Tom’s light continues to shine for his beautiful children.’
She went on to thank everyone who has cared for Tom during his illness, adding that he fought the disease until the very end.
Love: In the final picture posted on his Instagram account before his death, Parker shared this snap of him on stage with his bandmates
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