Former A Place In The Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin shares a heartbreaking update on his health and explains why he 'removes himself' from his family home.
Former A Place In The Sun presenter, Jonnie Irwin, has opened up about his ongoing battle with terminal cancer and the measures he takes to cope with his excruciating pain.
A long battle with cancer
Irwin, 49, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020, which has since spread to his brain. After being diagnosed with lung cancer, Irwin underwent treatment overseas, but the medical procedure resulted in irreversible damage to his liver. The cancer subsequently spread to his brain, leaving him uncertain about the time he has left to live.
Despite the physical and emotional toll this battle has taken on him, Irwin has remained resilient and determined to make the most of the time he has left. In a recent revelation, he shared a poignant reason why he sometimes chooses to 'remove himself' from his home and family.
Seeking solace in a hospice
Despite his ongoing battle with cancer, Irwin remains focused on staying positive. He sets 'little markers' in his life, events and milestones that he hopes to be present for. However, the chronic pain caused by his condition often forces him to 'remove himself' from his home and family. During these challenging times, Irwin finds solace in a hospice, where he can address his pain and seek relief.
According to Hello!, one of the reasons Irwin chooses to 'remove himself' from his family is to shield his three young sons from the impact of his chronic pain. Not having disclosed his terminal diagnosis to them yet, he believes that his mood swings and discomfort would negatively affect them. Irwin acknowledges that he becomes irritable when in pain, and he wants to 'spare his children from experiencing this side of him', reports Metro.
'I remove myself on a number of occasions because I'm not good to be around when I'm in pain. I'm like a bear with a sore head and I don't want them to be around that."
Discussing his death, the dad-of-three added: 'It can happen at any time. I’m here to stop it for as long as possible.'
Irwin's relationship with his children
Irwin shares children Rex, three, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac with his wife Jessica Holmes, who he married in September 2016. However, speaking to The Sun, Irwin said he hasn’t yet told his sons about his terminal cancer.
'It would be horrible news that they’d have to get their heads around. And it would confuse the hell out of Rex – he’s got a shocking enough day coming. Let’s bury our heads in the sand for as long as possible.'
He added:
'I want them to have the confidence of a public school boy, but also be streetwise lads. They’re happy kids, they laugh, and are a lot of fun to be around.'
Irwin has previously spoken candidly about how the pain his illness causes affects his moods. Speaking on the podcast OneChat last month, he said:
'I have been close to death’s door, twice at least. You lose your memory, you lose your patience. I have got a very short temper. It’s not made me a better person, that’s for sure.'
Read more:
⋙ Who is Jonnie Irwin’s wife Jessica Holmes? Inside the presenter's family life
