Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas today appeared on ITV's flagship programme This Morning to discuss the recent passing of his wife Gemma, who tragically passed away from blood cancer in November. Thomas has been admirably open in discussing his grief, and blogs frequently at his website, agriefshared.com.
In his first television appearance since her death, Thomas recalled her death with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, with the latter breaking down in tears as Thomas told of how he told his only child, Ethan, that his mother had passed away.
I left the hospital. I woke up every patient there and I screamed at God 'why have you left my boy without a mum?'.
I thought I've got to go home and tell him his mum's gone. What I didn't give him credit for is that kids - they develop so much in 18 months. My heart was pounding. I didn't tell Ethan that she was going, I just told him 'mummy is seriously ill'.
I took him through and I held him to her ear. He said he loved her and then he went to play with his cousins.
I thought I've got to tell him so I took him upstairs and looked into his deep brown eyes and said 'Ethan I'm really sorry - they couldn't make mummy better'. And I couldn't dress it up - I said 'mummy's died'.
He collapsed onto the floor and I did too and I just held him.
The interview was briefly paused as a tearful Willoughby gathered herself. You can watch a clip of the interview below.
