Australian TV host Fiona MacDonald announced her own death in a heartbreaking note after losing her battle with motor neurone disease aged 67.
The TV presenter, who posted It’s A Knockout and kid’s TV show wombat in the 80s, died three years after being diagnosed.
She turned down further treatment due to the symptoms. Announcing her own death in a heartbreaking note, she penned: “Farewell my friends. My sister Kylie is posting this because I have left the building – Hopefully I’m looking down from a cloud.
“Last night brought an end to a very tough few months. Was very peaceful, the boys and Kylie stayed with me to say goodbye.”
She continued: “While I’ve never wanted to die, the thought of leaving my tortured body was a relief. The last few months have been tough.
“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. So let’s not call it goodbye as I hope to see you again on the other side. Until then.”
Last year, Fiona had told Australian Story that she had lost her voice due to MND, saying via a computerised voice she used to communicate with: “Stealing the power of all muscles inch by inch until you can’t walk, can’t hold hands, can’t talk, swallow or breathe. Then you die. There is no treatment, no cure.”
Fiona, who is the sister of long-time Hey Hey it’s Saturday star Jacki MacDonald, retired from showbusiness in the early noughties to pursue her own wine consultancy business.
She then set up her own PR consultancy firm Wine Chronicles after leaving her role as a PR communications manager at Fine Wine Partners in 2015.
Fiona is is survived by her two sons Harry and Rafe.
The NHS describes Motor Neurone Disease as an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves and causes weakness that gets worse over time.
Symptoms include weakened muscles, difficulty with speech, weight loss and a weakened grip on items.