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Widowed Simon Thomas announces he is taking a break from social media

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Widowed Simon Thomas announces he is taking a break from social media

Former Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas has revealed he will turn off his social media in a heartwarming post celebrating his friends having twins.

The Norfolk-born father-of-one, 46, posted the message on Twitter with a video of his friend Dan Ritchie’s children as they were told the news.

Mr Thomas wrote: ‘Having a bit of a social media break – but before I do I had to share this.

Former Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas has revealed he will turn off his social media in a heartwarming post celebrating his friends having twins

The Norfolk-born father-of-one, 46, posted the message on Twitter with a video of his friend Dan Ritchie’s children (pictured) as they were told the news

The clip showed Mr Richie’s two sons and wife with a picture of her ultrasound scan – as one of the boys realises there are two babies in the images (centre)

The two children run around the kitchen excitedly and into the living room where they dance and scream

‘The moment very good friends of mine told their boys that they’re expecting TWINS!’

The clip showed Mr Richie’s two sons and wife at home in Ledbury, Herefordshire, with a picture of her ultrasound scan – as one of the boys realises there are two babies in the images.

The two children run around the kitchen excitedly and into the living room where they dance and scream.

One of the boys then hugs his mother around the waist as she tells him ‘you’re going to have two babies, did you think mummy’s tummy was looking big’.

He says yes and continues his celebrations as he jumps and falls on the floor.

Mr Thomas has been raising his son Ben, nine, single-handedly after losing his wife to cancer at the end of 2017.

Gemma tragically passed away in November, a year after she was sent home for bed rest by her GP after visiting three times with flu-like symptoms.

Mr Thomas has been raising his child Ben, nine, single-handedly after losing his wife Gemma (pictured with Ben and Simon) to cancer at the end of 2017

She died just four days after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, aged 40.

Last week, Mr Thomas opened up about his new book which he wrote in the hope of helping others ‘find a narrow path’ through grief.

He said the process of losing his wife had been cathartic.

The former Sky Sports presenter posted his new release on his Instagram page which he described as a ‘surreal but immensely proud feeling’ 

Gemma tragically passed away in November, a year after she was sent home for bed rest by her GP after visiting three times with flu-like symptoms

He told This Morning: ‘I wanted to give hope to people going through this as ultimately we know we’re not alone but to hear it is massive,’ he told the presenters, while discussing new book ‘Love, Interrupted – Navigating Grief One Day At A Time.

‘I also wanted to give people an understanding that grief can be really mess. I had PTSD for months. I was angry, crying, every emotion out there I was experiencing and hundreds of thousands of others do as well.’

Simon Thomas, 46, discussed his new book ‘Love, Interrupted – Navigating Grief One Day At A Time’ on This Morning last week

On the show, Mr Thomas revealed it was his son Ethan who first mentioned the idea of writing a book after seeing him jotting down notes in the early hours.

‘About a week before the funeral I started writing down how I was feeling – particularly with Ethan as anytime he came up with an amazing question or expressed his feelings I wrote it down,’ he explained to presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.   

‘He came downstairs one morning at 6.30am and I was just tapping away. He asked what I was doing. I told him I was just writing down how I’m feeling so maybe one day we can look back and see how far we’ve come. He said: “why don’t you write a book?”

When Mr Thomas read through Gemma’s text messages following her death, he told the presenters he was surprised to discover she had mentioned some of the symptoms to friends – which he had no idea about

Gemma Thomas (pictured) died just three days after she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia — and only weeks after she became ill. Simon was given the prognosis that her condition was critical

When Mr Thomas read through Gemma’s text messages following her death, he told the presenters he was surprised to discover she had mentioned some of the symptoms to friends – which he had no idea about.

‘I never knew she was complaining of mouth ulcers a month before she died,’ he explained. ‘That’s a symptom of blood cancer. The clues were there – the mouth ulcers, the bruise that wouldn’t go, the tiredness, the headaches.’

He added: ‘It was like Cluedo putting them all together. They were all there but we didn’t see them. Over half the single population can’t name a single symptom of blood cancer.’

Simon – seen with his son during the Easter weekend- has opened up about his grief in his new book – which is on sale

Mr Thomas then went on to praise his son Ethan for helping him navigate the narrow path through grief.

‘There were two big moments where I was very close to ending it. You can’t see anymore. Life feels very, very grey. The colour is sucked out of life.’

‘I knew I simply couldn’t for him, for me or my friends that I couldn’t give up. He’s the one that’s pulled me through.’

In the acknowledgement for the book, Mr Thomas has also mentioned rumoured girlfriend Derrina Jebb.

 Simon Thomas walks with new girlfriend Derrina Jebb, 28, attending the Gold Cup day during day 3 of the 2019 Cheltenham festival. ‘An amazing woman who has stood shoulder to shoulder with me in some of my darkest hours and has become a rock not just for me, but for my boy, too,’ wrote Simon about Ms Jebb

Simon first revealed he was in a new relationship towards the end of last year, though he did not disclose her identity. Pictured: Derrina Jebb, 27, is a minister’s daughter he is said to have met in church

‘She’s very very special,’ he said. ‘I wanted to pay tribute to her because she is a very very special girl.’

Taking to Instagram on the day of the book release, Mr Thomas described the book release as a ‘surreal but immensely proud feeling.’

He added: ‘My only hope for this book is that for those who are kind enough to read it that they know that if they have gone through loss or are going through it that they’re not alone.’

‘And for those who haven’t, I hope it helps you understand a bit more about something that sadly, we are all going to face at some point. It’s a tough read but it finishes with the bells of hope ringing out.’

‘Six months on from the point the book finishes I feel more hope and happiness than ever. There is no way round or over #grief but there’s definitely a way through. God Bless and thanks to everyone on here who has been so supportive.’

What is acute myeloid leukaemia?

Acute myeloid leukaemia is an aggressive and rare form of blood cancer.

The symptoms of AML usually develop over a few weeks and become more severe. 

According to NHS Choices, the symptoms include: 

  • Pale Skin
  • Tiredness
  • Breathlessness
  • Frequent infections
  • Unusual and frequent bleeding – including the gums and nosebleeds

In advanced cases, patients are incredibly vulnerable to life-threatening infections and internal bleeding. 

If a GP suspects leukaemia, they will arrange a blood test to determine blood cell production. 

In AML, stem cells within the patient’s bone marrow produce too many immature white blood cells, which are not capable of fighting infection. 

This also can lead to a decrease in production of the oxygen-carrying red blood cells and platelets that help the blood to clot. 

Each year around 2,600 people in the UK are diagnosed with blood cancer. 

After diagnosis, patients need urgent chemotherapy due to the aggressive nature of the cancer. 

In some cases, radiotherapy may be needed along with a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. 

Source: NHS Choices 

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