IN 2017, Simon Thomas' wife Gemma tragically died aged 40.
Following the passing of his beloved wife, the former Blue Peter host has opened up on the heartbreaking experience.
Who was Simon Thomas' wife Gemma?
Gemma was the wife of TV star Simon Thomas.
The pair married in 2005 and later welcomed a son named Ethan.
Gemma studied at the University of Sheffield before going on to work at the electoral commission.
Are there illegal baby names? Surprising monikers that are BANNED in other countries, from Sarah to Thomas
In November 2017, the mum-of-one tragically passed away aged 40 - just days after receiving an acute myeloid leukaemia diagnosis.
Thomas was left to care for his young son Ethan and consequently took a step back from life in front of the camera.
Tragically, Gemma died before the family could be supported by Blood Cancer UK, but it remains a cause Thomas cares about.
What is acute myeloid leukaemia?
Leukaemia is cancer of the white blood cells.
Acute leukaemia is when it is progressing aggressively and requires immediate attention.
In Gemma’s case it was affecting her myeloid cells.
These perform a number of different functions, such as fighting bacterial infections, defending the body against parasites and preventing the spread of tissue damage.
The risk of developing acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) increases with age, with the cancer being most common in adults over 65.
Symptoms can include pale skin, feeling tired or weak and repeat infections over a short space of time.
According to NHS: ''It's not clear exactly what causes AML and, in most cases, there's no identifiable cause.''
All about Rachel Nickell who was murdered in front of her son Alex Hanscombe
What has Gemma Thomas' husband Simon said about her death?
In 2023, Thomas opened up on the experience of losing his wife to cancer.
In an inspirational interview he highlighted how he kept going and re-found his faith.
Thomas spoke to Streams Studio, saying: "We went from Monday night with her being diagnosed with a blood cancer of some sort. For a couple of days, things were looking OK, the treatment was going well but then things just cartwheeled out of control.
"On the Friday she falls unconscious and by 8:30 on Friday morning I'm being told by a consultant 'she's not going to see out the day'.
"The very foundations on which your life has been built are trembling, there's a massive life earthquake going on.
"And by 5.45pm on that Friday in November 2017 at the age of 40, with an eight-year-old son and a husband, she's gone.
"The first thing I did when I came out of that hospital was I just sank to my knees and shouted at God: 'Why? Why, why, why? Why've you left my boy without a mum, I don't get it, I don't get you God'."
Thomas also opened up on the anger he had towards his religion and how he collapsed to his knees at Gemma's funeral.
However, Thomas was still struggling, saying: "I remember on the Saturday morning after funeral waking up as low as I'd ever been.
"I walked out of the house in my dressing gown and sat on this tree right by the River Thames at the end of the garden in Reading where we lived at the time.
"I felt like I was just in this fog of grief and pain and I leant up against this tree and it was only a brief moment, but this moment came when I felt this darkness so inescapable and so oppressive that I thought 'I can't do it. I cannot do this, I'm not cut out for this grief.
"I'm not cut out for being strong enough to navigate my boy through the next few years, and I just wanted to roll into the Thames. I kind of just wanted to let go of life for a minute.
"Thankfully, two things happened. I got an image of Ethan and I thought 'I can't, he's just lost his mum.'
"But the most powerful thing that happened, was I looked to my left and had this really strong sense that there was someone sat there, and I could see the image of this man who was just looking at me, saying nothing.
"I could just see him weeping and then he was gone. To this day, I believe, and it felt so strong at that time, that that was Jesus sat alongside me.
"I felt like Jesus right there in that moment was saying 'I understand, I've been there. I know what this feels like, I am going to walk you through this.'
"I remember feeling this surge of strength coming through me and I thought 'I've got to get up, I'm going to walk back to the house, and I'm not giving up.''
