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Kelsey Parker has opened up about the lead-up to her late husband Tom's one-year anniversary, which she'll mark today (30 March).
The grieving mum of two is among the line-up of celebrities on Ashley Cain's new series MTV FACES, which will see stars engage in raw discussions about death, suicide, and loss. You can watch the trailer here:
Kelsey will appear in episode one of the new series, and speak to Ashley about Tom, who died on 30 March 2022 after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2020.
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It was Kelsey who announced the devastating news of the The Wanted singer's passing this day last year.
In a post to Instagram, she wrote at the time: “Our hearts are broken, Tom was the centre of our world and we can’t imagine life without his infectious smile and energetic presence."
Ahead of today's anniversary, Kelsey spoke to Tyla about how she has been preparing for what's bound to be an emotional day.
"It's just been so tough," she confessed.
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"I've just been dreading the month of March because it was my birthday at the beginning of the month, I've had Mother's Day, and now Tom's anniversary. I just don't know how you prepare for it, really."
The only real bright side about hitting the one year mark since Tom's passing, is that Kelsey is finally starting to feel a little bit like herself again - though she doesn't think she'll ever really be who she once was.
"I do feel like the first six months of it was an outer-body experience," she shared.
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"I don't really feel like I was actually here. I only feel now like I'm back being me again.
"So I don't know, I think I'm just taking each day as it comes."
Kelsey continued: "I don't think I'm ever going to be that person that I once was.
"I've been through so much that I don't think I'm ever going to be the Kelsey that I was two years ago. There's no way I could be that person."
Asked what piece of advice she would give to those who are in their first year of grieving a loved one, she said that the key is to 'listen to yourself'.
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Kelsey shared: "Whatever feels right for you, do it. If you want to lay in bed all day, lay in bed all day.
"If you want to go to work two days after they pass, then you do that.
"If you want to go and run crazy marathons and train really hard, do that.
"But you have to listen to your body and do what's right for you."
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She continued: "I feel like I've done it my way. I am unapologetically me so I have tried to do it the way I felt was best for me and my family."
Kelsey will dive even deeper into what this past year of grieving and healing has been like in MTV FACES with Ashley Cain.
MTV FACES hosted by Ashley Cain premieres on the MTV UK YouTube channel on March 30 and weekly thereafter.
Featured Image Credit: MTV/Instagram/@being_kelseyTopics: Celebrity, TV And Film