Jonnie Irwin 'privileged' as he celebrates 50th birthday with terminal cancer
A Place In The Sun star Jonnie Irwin says he's 'privileged' to be celebrating his 50th birthday with his wife and kids, after his terminal cancer diagnosis.
The star, who regularly fronts the Channel 4 property programme, revealed his cancer had tragically spread from his lung to his brain last year after initially being diagnosed in 2020. The property guru was given just six months to live, but has made it through until two years later to celebrate his milestone birthday. To mark the occasion, Jonnie has flown to Spain alongside his wife, Jess, and their sons Rex, four, and three-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac to celebrate the special day, with Jonnie claiming the occasion as a "triumph".
Speaking to Hello! magazine, he said: "I feel really privileged to be able to celebrate my birthday looking at blue skies and with sand between my toes. I had an early birthday party at the start of the year because I didn't think I'd make it. It was like being at my own wake; lots of fun, lots of dancing. But here I am. I view it as a complete triumph." The A Place in The Sun star also described how his life threatening illness has forced him to really appreciate everyday as he treasured being away with his wife and kids for his 50th.
Jonnie Irwin says being able to celebrate his 50th birthday with his wife and kids is 'a triumph' (Instagram)The star has also opened up recently about the gruelling reality of living with terminal cancer, as he admitted he 'tires easily' as he continues to fight his diagnosis. Yet despite the cancer, Jonnie shows his fans he is determined to make the most of his life when earlier this month, the father-of-three shared a snap on Instagram at The Streets' gig in Leeds, just hours after a gruelling radiotherapy session. He captioned the photo: "What a night! Probs should be resting after radiotherapy to my Swede the day before but F it right?! More about that later. So glad I went especially as he played all the classics. @mikeskinnerltd had the place pumping." Updating fans the day after the gig, Jonnie signed off: "Pretty whacked today but worth it. #thestreets #livemusic."
Since his diagnosis in August 2020, Jonnie has endured gruelling chemotherapy as the cancer spread to his brain and liver. The much-loved presenter says he was back in hospital with jaundice the weekend before his birthday, when doctors discovered the tumour on his liver had grown, and he now faces more treatment this week after he returns home.
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Keeping a positive outlook, the former rugby player refused to be downhearted as he said: "This latest scare is a big bump in the road and I'm hoping beyond hope to get a solution. I don't think it's going to be easy. Some people correctly say I'm burying my head in the sand, and I am. I don't want to think about it; I want to think about positive things."
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