TV presenter Fiona MacDonald has died aged 67.
The Australian star shared a post on social media, three years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
MacDonald was known for her roles on Wombat and hosting game show It’s A Knockout.
She was also sister to Hey Hey It’s Saturday’s Jacki MacDonald, who is now a well-known radio presenter.
‘Farewell my friends. My sister Kylie is posting this because I have left the building – Hopefully I’m looking down from a cloud,’ her statement read.
‘Last night brought an end to a very tough few months. Was very peaceful, the boys and Kylie stayed with me to say goodbye.’
The statement went on: ‘While I’ve never wanted to die, the thought of leaving my tortured body was a relief.
‘The last few months have been tough. Unable to swallow normal food, the tube feeding that should have sustained me didn’t work because my gut couldn’t tolerate any of the multiple brands of protein drinks. It went straight in and straight out.
‘I have been slowly starving, growing weaker and weaker. I’ve also developed terrible back pain because my muscles aren’t supporting my frame.
‘The black humour that served me well through the first years of this journey turned to despair.
‘I made the decision after much soul searching to cease all medical supports and finally go into hospital for end of life palliative care. When you love life as much as I do, it takes a great deal of courage to make choices that lead to farewell.’
She ended her post by saying: ‘So let’s not call it goodbye as I hope to see you again on the other side.
‘Until then: “May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, May the rain fall softly upon your fields until we meet again, And may God hold you in the hollow of His hand.”
‘I carry your love and laughter with me and hope you’ll remember mine.’
Just one day before, MacDonald shared an update saying: ‘I’ve officially reached ‘bag of bones’ status on the scales, so everything is very effortful for me. Interspersing visits with time in bed – it’s how you have to roll with MND.’
More to come…
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