The heart-wrenching journey of Fiona Phillips and her husband, Martin Frizell, has taken a deep and poignant turn. In a revealing moment, Martin discusses the intense emotional weight of Fiona’s battle with Alzheimer’s, especially that heartbreaking moment when she mistook their son for an intruder. The powerful revelation comes from their new book, Remember When, where Martin opens up about the struggles they’ve faced since her diagnosis.
Martin, who stepped down from his role as editor of This Morning to care for Fiona, shares how devastating it was when she looked at their eldest son, Nathaniel, 26, and asked, “Who’s that man in the kitchen?” He recounts the scen”I said gently, ‘That’s Nat. Our son. He’s home for the weekend.’ She was in such a state that she didn’t even seem upset that she had asked the question.” This moment struck a chord, illuminating the harsh reality of cognitive decline.
This wasn’t the first hurdle they faced. Martin revealed Fiona was grappling with another undisclosed illness that exacerbated her Alzheimer’s symptoms long before her diagnosis was made public. The couple had kept this information private, fearing that their sons might inherit the same genetic predisposition that had afflicted several of Fiona’s family members.
Despite eventually discovering that their sons, Nathaniel and the younger Mackenzie, 23, were not at heightened risk, witnessing their mother’s decline remains painfully distressing. Martin reflected, “It’s tough for them. They see their mum like this and it’s very upsetting. But what choice do we have but to keep on going?”
In a heartfelt chapter, Fiona voices her longing for simple family moments, expressing a desire to relish the everyday experiences she fears she may forget. “I want our son Nat to come home on leave from the Army and give me one of his bear-like hugs,” she writes. Her yearning to just be herself, along with her need for connection, resonates powerfully.
In sharing their personal battle, Fiona and Martin not only highlight the realities of Alzheimer’s but also the strength found in family support. Their story serves as an emotional reminder of the fragility of memory and the importance of cherishing each moment with our loved ones, echoing sentiments felt by families across the globe.