Johnny Ruffo, a former star of Home and Away, has thanked Tahnee Sims, his girlfriend of seven years, for helping him through his battle with brain cancer.
The 34-year-old actor and singer received his initial diagnosis in 2017 and revealed on Monday that his prognosis was terminal in an interview with The Project.
Johnny said he loves Tahnee “more than anything” and that it breaks his heart to see the suffering she is experiencing as his condition worsens in an interview with Who magazine published on Thursday.
“Tahnee motivates me to strive for excellence.” Every day, she helps me find the will to fight, and I am so appreciative of that. He said, “I can’t thank her enough.
Even though they make an effort to keep their relationship as normal as possible by discussing their future plans, Johnny admitted that his bleak prognosis still weighs heavily on their shoulders.
There is nothing I can do to stop the pain she will experience, but I already feel it. He said, “I can’t take that away from her.”
It’s heartbreaking for me, and I feel solely responsible. I’m at a loss for what to do. Therefore, we treat each day as it comes. I’m making every effort to win.
After experiencing excruciating headaches in August 2017, Johnny received his initial diagnosis.
He underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy as well as having a 7 cm tumor from his frontal lobe removed during an emergency surgery.
Months later, the former X Factor contestant entered remission, but she revealed in November 2021 that the illness had come back.
On Monday, Johnny revealed to The Project that his cancer was now incurable.
He admitted that he had already exceeded his life expectancy to host Carrie Bickmore, who had lost her husband Greg Lange to brain cancer in 2010.
“It will eventually succeed in taking me, but I’m still fighting.” still going strong. The average life expectancy for my diagnosis and tumor was three years,’ he acknowledged.
“And it’s been five years for me.” I’ve already triumphed. My current objective is to live a happy life and try to assist as many people as I can.
Despite his struggles, the former Dancing with the Stars contestant was more worried about how Tahnee would handle things without him.
He told Carrie, “You can only imagine how difficult it’s been for her.”
I detest to say it, but I often consider how difficult it might be for her if something were to happen to me.
I don’t want to think about it, so that’s why. It just makes me a little bit emotional because I know something will happen eventually, whether it’s in a month, ten years, or twenty.
Since his diagnosis, Johnny has frequently talked about the support Tahnee has given him and has even said that she once “saved” his life.
In 2015, the two first connected at a dance studio, and they have been dating ever since.
