Davina McCall reveals she was comforted by the spirit of her late father after gruelling brain surgery

Davina McCall has mentioned she was comforted by the spirit of her late father following her gruelling mind surgical procedure.

The persona, 57, misplaced her graphic designer dad Andrew, aged 77, following an extended battle with Alzheimer’s illness, a situation that impacts reminiscence, speech and stability.

And as she paid tribute to her father with a candy snap to mark the third anniversary of his loss of life on Friday, she revealed that he ‘visited her after her operation’.

Davina underwent surgical procedure final yr after a health care provider found a colloid cyst in her mind.

However following the surgical procedure, Davina has mentioned that Andrew visited and defined that the expertise felt ‘soooooo actual’ and revealed it ‘felt good’ to see him.

Sharing a candy image to Instagram of them sharing a hug, Davina penned: ‘Three years have handed .. miss you … greatest Dad ever.

‘Strong, reliable, foolish, enjoyable, sincere, protected, encouraging, joyful, cuddly , mummy , Milly and I take into consideration you day by day … you visited me after my op … you have been soooooo actual … I really feel like I’ve seen you latterly!!! Feels good !!!!’

Davina has been open about her well being scare and beforehand gave an emotional replace in an Instagram video as she urged others to get personal well being checks if they will afford it.

The My Mum Your Dad presenter had her tumour picked up at a personal clinic when  she was provided a well being verify after participating in a discuss menopause.

And it wasn’t simply her well being that was impacted by the tumour as her relationship with accomplice Michael Douglas was put to the take a look at. 

Talking to Steven Bartlett on her Start Once more podcast, Davina admitted that she and Michael have been ‘actually actually actually shut’ forward of her operation, however believes the hardest time for him got here whereas she was intensive take care of a number of days.

She mentioned: ‘What’s been attention-grabbing, is that I believe it has been essentially the most testing time for him ever, to see me who’s ”Mrs in Management of all the things.” 

‘I imply beforehand, the concern and all the things purchased us actually actually actually shut collectively however I believe the primary month for him in hospital was so painful and troublesome and onerous, and that Whatsapp group was his remedy, his saving grace, I do not know what he would have achieved with out it. 

‘However that is the wonderful factor about him as a person, he’s all the things. He’s sturdy, he is tender, he is humorous, he is critical, he is actually good and tremendous foolish.

And as she paid tribute to her father with a candy snap to mark the third anniversary of his loss of life on Friday, she revealed that he ‘visited her after her operation’ (pictured final yr) 

Nevertheless it wasn’t simply her well being that was impacted by the tumour as her relationship with accomplice Michael Douglas was put to the take a look at 

The presenter mentioned that she and Michael have been ‘actually actually actually shut’ forward of her operation, however believes the toughest time got here whereas she was intensive care (pictured Sepember 2024)

‘I believe I used to be in intensive care for 2/three days in the long run.. I believe for him I believe for Michael these few days at first, even after three or 4 days we had a breakthrough.’

Throughout the interview, Davina added that the surgical procedure fully modified her relationship together with her stepmother Gabby, admitting she’s ‘fallen in love together with her in a significant means for the primary time.’

She revealed that her father, who died in 2022, first married her stepmother Gabby when she was six years previous, and after residing together with her grandmother for a few years, she moved in with them when she was 13.

The star has beforehand shared perception into her fraught relationship together with her delivery mom Florence, who she described as an ‘alcoholic.’ She died in 2008.

Davina informed Steven that for years she suffered guilt at transferring in together with her father and stepmother, wrongfully believing that they did not need her there. 

However after her current surgical procedure the pair lastly talked issues by and at the moment are nearer than ever following the loss of life of her father. 

In 2017 Davina spoke emotionally concerning the tell-tale indicators that made her suspect her father had Alzheimer’s.

The presenter and her household picked up on him repeating a narrative he had informed solely quarter-hour earlier and forgetting occasions that occurred simply days earlier than.

Ultimately, Andrew began struggling to search out the phrases he wished to say and to search out on a regular basis gadgets across the house, in addition to making odd remarks. 

Davina’s father Andrew was recognized with Alzheimer’s on the age of 73, whereas her late grandmother Pippy additionally battled dementia (each above in 2017)

She mentioned: ‘My dad has at all times been my rock. He is means smarter than me, funnier, stronger. I’ve at all times barely hero-worshipped him.

‘So when he began saying humorous issues like, “I took the overland prepare” and “Name me when your work is much less explosive”, it did not take us lengthy to all come collectively and ask one another if we needs to be involved. 

‘The psychologist that first assessed him mentioned that he might have been affected for some time – however he’s so intelligent that he had provide you with methods. That is my dad – see an issue, provide you with a method.’

She continued: ‘My dad may be very charming, everybody he meets falls in love with him. That is one factor that hasn’t modified.

‘He nonetheless provides the very best hugs and my youngsters adore him. Since he is had Alzheimer’s, he has develop into calmer and children reply very properly to that.

‘I’ve grieved the lack of my previous dad. However we’re forging a brand new relationship, a unique one – one the place maybe he may want me extra. Our dynamic has modified, however he is nonetheless my dad.’

Andrew was recognized with Alzheimer’s in 2016 aged 73, whereas her grandmother, who died peacefully in 2018, Pippy additionally battled dementia. 

Davina lived together with her paternal grandparents following her father’s divorce from organic mom Florence Hennion when she was three-years previous. 

Talking in 2019 the presenter – who battled substance and alcohol points throughout her youth – mentioned her fractious relationship with Florence, admitting they took medication collectively when she was a younger woman as there have been no fastened parental guidelines or pointers. 

Regardless of her troublesome relationship together with her mom Florence, Davina shared a  shut bond together with her step mom Gaby and her father Andrew (pictured in 2017)

Davina revealed she took medication together with her mom Florence (pictured) when she was a younger woman, as there have been ‘no boundaries’ after they hung out collectively

She informed This Is Davina: ‘After I was younger, being with Mum, there have been no boundaries. Carrying make-up, brief skirts, excessive heels at 13, consuming… finally, I even took medication together with her.

‘I don’t blame her in any respect for my habit, nevertheless it was screwed up… not a standard mother-child relationship.  

‘Again then, I used to be only a child and, if I’m sincere, I believed she was cool as a result of my granny, Pippy [who brought Davina up from the age of three], and my dad by no means let me do any of that in England.’  

Throughout an look on Who Do You Suppose You Are? Davina recalled that her mom deserted her on the age of three, and was married 4 occasions, earlier than her loss of life in 2008.

The 2 did not communicate for eight years and within the emotional programme the Huge Brother host admitted her mom ‘most likely should not have had youngsters’.

Davina is mom to daughters Holly, 23, and Tilly, 21, and son Chester, 18, with ex-husband Matthew Robertson. 

WHAT IS DEMENTIA?

Dementia is an umbrella time period used to explain a variety of neurological problems

A GLOBAL CONCERN 

Dementia is an umbrella time period used to explain a variety of progressive neurological problems (these affecting the mind) which affect reminiscence, pondering and behavior. 

There are numerous kinds of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s illness is the commonest.

Some individuals might have a mixture of several types of dementia.

No matter which kind is recognized, every particular person will expertise dementia in their very own distinctive means.

Dementia is a worldwide concern however it’s most frequently seen in wealthier international locations, the place individuals are prone to stay into very previous age.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?

The Alzheimer’s Society stories there are greater than 900,000 individuals residing with dementia within the UK in the present day. That is projected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.

Alzheimer’s illness is the commonest kind of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 per cent of these recognized.

Within the US, it is estimated there are 5.5 million Alzheimer’s victims. An identical proportion rise is anticipated within the coming years.

As an individual’s age will increase, so does the chance of them creating dementia.

Charges of prognosis are enhancing however many individuals with dementia are thought to nonetheless be undiagnosed.

IS THERE A CURE?

At the moment there isn’t any treatment for dementia.

However new medication can decelerate its development and the sooner it’s noticed, the simpler therapies might be.

Supply: Alzheimer’s Society