Mel Schilling previously opened up about her IVF journey, after welcoming her daughter at the age of 42.
On Tuesday (24 March), Mel's husband, Gareth, shared the devastating news that the Married at First Sight expert had passed away at the age of 54, following a battle with colon cancer that had metastasised to her lungs and brain.
The Australian relationship therapist, who joined the hit reality TV series in 2016, initially revealed she was diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023.
However, the MAFS icon recently explained that the cancer had metastasised and that there was nothing more doctors could do.
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Mel penned a lengthy post on Instagram alongside a photo with her husband, Gareth, and her daughter, Maddie, earlier this month, recalling: "After many tests, I was told the cancer had spread to the left side of my brain and, despite subsequent radiotherapy sessions, my oncology team have now told me there is nothing further they can do."
Following Mel's death, Gareth penned a beautiful tribute in which he spoke about his wife's strength, her impressive television career and how much of an incredible mother she was to Maddie.
He wrote: "Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love. In her final moments, when I thought cancer had taken away her ability to speak, she ushered me closer and whispered a message for Maddie and me that will sustain me for the rest of my life.
"It took all of her remaining strength, and that gesture summed up our wee Melsie perfectly. Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me. This is a woman who became a new mum and a TV star at 42 — and nailed both.
"This is a woman who, through two years of chemotherapy, when she could barely lift her head from the pillow, never complained and never stopped showing courage, grace, compassion and empathy, and never missed a day of filming.
"To most of you, she was Mel Schilling — matriarch of MAFS and queen of reality TV. To Maddie and me, she was our wee Melsie: an incredible mum, role model, and soulmate."
In an interview with Davina McCall for her podcast Begin Again last year, Mel spoke about her journey to becoming a mum, revealing the hardest parts of IVF as well as the beautiful story behind their success.
After suffering from a miscarriage when they first began trying to conceive, Gareth and Mel decided to try IVF to start their family.
"I think the cruelest part of IVF is that the body almost tricks you into believing that you're pregnant, you look pregnant, I had a belly that looked six months pregnant when I was having the hormone injections, I had all the emotions of someone who was pregnant, I had a morning sickness experience, and then it's gone," said Mel.
"Then we did the first round of IVF, they put two eggs in and they both just fell away, nothing happened at all."
Mel explained that the next day, she received a call that changed everything.
She recalled: "But then my doctor called me the next day and she said we've got this little egg that wasn't developed in time but it is now. 'Would you like to put it on ice?'"
Mel explained that she agreed, before giving her body the chance to heal. They waited for the next natural cycle around six weeks later and at the time, doctors asked if they would like to use the frozen embryo, which ended up being Maddie.
"I thought 'why not?' nothing to lose. Popped it in and that's Maddie, so she was frozen for the first six weeks of her life," said Mel.
Mel welcomed Maddie around the same time she began her television career. She joined MAFS in Australia in 2016 before becoming an expert on the UK version in 2021.
Common symptoms of colon cancer may include:
- Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
- Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
- Blood in your poo, which may look red or black
- Bleeding from your bottom
- Stomach pain
- A lump in your stomach
- Bloating
- Losing weight without trying
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Topics: Mel Schilling
Lucy Devine