Former Waterloo Road actress Holly Matthews opened up about marking the first anniversary of her husband’s death.
Holly’s husband, Ross Blair, died tragically from a rare brain tumour on the 29th of July last year, and the actress has shared the lessons she’s learned in the wake of his death.
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Speaking to the Mail Online, Holly said that losing her husband inspired her to meet life “head-on” and claimed that, despite the pain of his loss, she doesn’t feel any self-pity.
“It’s been tough and painful at times, but I don’t feel sorry for myself for a second,” she said.
“That doesn’t mean pretending the tough stuff isn’t happening. It means looking the tiger in the eye, facing life head-on and choosing happiness regardless.”
She said she had no specific plans for a memorial, saying “We’ll share memories and talk about him – but we do that every day any way as his presence is constant in our lives.”
Holly said she would make sure she was surrounded by loved ones, to ensure she didn’t spend the day alone.
She spoke about the couple’s two daughters – Brooke and Texas – saying she had decided not to tell them about the anniversary.
“But they seem to have an instinct for what’s happening as they’ve been extra sensitive and are asking me a lot of questions about Ross.”
Holly gave some advice for how to deal with the kind of tragedy she faced, saying that there is no right or wrong way to grieve.
She said that being kind to yourself and choosing to be happy and grateful is key.
Holly and Ross met at a Pimms promotional event in 2008, and hit it off immediately – the next day Holly moved from Essex to Coventry to be with him.
They got married in 2009, before welcoming their first daughter, Brook, in 2011. Texas followed in 2013.
Later that year, however, Ross began experiencing intense headaches, low moods, and depression – and scans revealed he had a brain tumour.
He endured surgery, radiation therapy, and chemo in an attempt to treat the tumour, but in 2016 it grew back.
After more treatment, Ross and Holly decided to pack in as much family time as possible, so there would be nothing to regret if he died.
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Just after a holiday to celebrate his 32nd birthday last year, Ross suffered a seizure and was told there was nothing doctors could do to help him.
After a few months in hospital and hospice care, he passed away.
Holly has become a high profile supporter of The Brain Tumour Charity, raising thousands of pounds in support of their efforts.
To learn more, visit thebraintumourcharity.org.