Shocking health revelation forces Westlife member to step back
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The world of pop music has been rocked by the news that a member of the beloved Irish boyband Westlife, has temporarily withdrawn from the band due to serious health issues.
This comes as a shock to fans as the band was on the brink of embarking on its first tour of North America.
Mark Feehily, 43, has been battling a series of health conditions, including life-threatening sepsis, pneumonia, and a hernia, which have necessitated four surgeries since 2020.
His bandmates, Shane Filan, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne, are set to continue the tour without him.
In a heartfelt post, Feehily shared his health struggles over the past few years, reassuring fans and urging them not to worry.
He detailed the onset of his health issues, which began with a surgery in August 2020.
'Within a few days of this surgery, I was in severe pain and was rushed into A&E,' he said.
'I eventually ended that awful day in ICU where I was informed that, due to a complication with the surgery, I had developed severe sepsis, a life-threatening infection that would require immediate emergency surgery to rectify the problem and basically save my life.'
Sepsis is a serious condition where the body's response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs.
It can damage vital organs such as the lungs, kidneys, and liver.
Feehily's battle with sepsis saw him spending months in hospital, isolated due to COVID lockdowns, without the comfort of visits from his fiancée and then-10-month-old daughter.
Feehily's health journey took another turn in late 2021 when he fell ill with pneumonia before a concert in Newcastle.
'I was told I had to go straight home to recover and regrettably miss the rest of the concerts that December.'
'I was referred to a consultant who told me I needed more surgery, which I went ahead with in May 2022, meaning I was forced to miss more of The Wild Dreams tour.'
'Three months after that surgery, I tried my best to soldier on for you guys and to go back on tour.'
'But unfortunately, the physical demands of the concerts and extensive travel were proving too much for me.'
'I developed a very large “incisional hernia”, and I was told that I needed further surgery to fix it.'
'This would be my fourth major surgery since the start of it all, but I had no option.'
In his social media post, Feehily confirmed his temporary hiatus from the band, expressing his regret and thanking fans for their support and understanding.
'Believe me, I wish things could be different!'
'I would like to thank you so very much for your support and understanding of me and my health over the past few years.'
You can read Feehily’s full post below:
Source: Instagram/@markusmoments.
Feehily also thanked his family and friends for their unwavering support and his daughter for being his 'daily motivation'.
He felt devastated missing out on the concerts but said he looked forward to future performances.
'For now, I have to make the right decision for my health and well-being, for my family, and for myself as a person. Please don’t worry.'
Westlife, formed in 1998, has been a staple in the pop music scene, producing hits like 'Queen of My Heart', 'My Love', and 'Swear It Again'.
The remaining members, Filan, Egan, and Byrne, released a joint statement on Westlife’s social media account following Feehily’s announcement.
'We would like to take this opportunity to send our brother, best friend and fellow bandmate, Mark, so many well wishes as he takes the necessary time he needs to recover,' they said.
'Mark has been so strong in continuing to show up on stage despite going through such a turbulent time with his health, and we completely respect that he must now focus on getting better so he can return to the stage when he is fit and well to do so!'
'In the meantime, we will continue to fly the Westlife flag higher than ever for you guys.'
Their tour is set to begin on 11 March in Toronto, Canada.
What are your thoughts on this latest news? Let us know in the comments below.
This comes as a shock to fans as the band was on the brink of embarking on its first tour of North America.
Mark Feehily, 43, has been battling a series of health conditions, including life-threatening sepsis, pneumonia, and a hernia, which have necessitated four surgeries since 2020.
His bandmates, Shane Filan, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne, are set to continue the tour without him.
Westlife will embark on a tour without member Mark Feehily (middle left). Image source: Westlife.
In a heartfelt post, Feehily shared his health struggles over the past few years, reassuring fans and urging them not to worry.
He detailed the onset of his health issues, which began with a surgery in August 2020.
'Within a few days of this surgery, I was in severe pain and was rushed into A&E,' he said.
'I eventually ended that awful day in ICU where I was informed that, due to a complication with the surgery, I had developed severe sepsis, a life-threatening infection that would require immediate emergency surgery to rectify the problem and basically save my life.'
Sepsis is a serious condition where the body's response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs.
It can damage vital organs such as the lungs, kidneys, and liver.
Feehily's battle with sepsis saw him spending months in hospital, isolated due to COVID lockdowns, without the comfort of visits from his fiancée and then-10-month-old daughter.
Feehily's health journey took another turn in late 2021 when he fell ill with pneumonia before a concert in Newcastle.
'I was told I had to go straight home to recover and regrettably miss the rest of the concerts that December.'
'I was referred to a consultant who told me I needed more surgery, which I went ahead with in May 2022, meaning I was forced to miss more of The Wild Dreams tour.'
'Three months after that surgery, I tried my best to soldier on for you guys and to go back on tour.'
'But unfortunately, the physical demands of the concerts and extensive travel were proving too much for me.'
'I developed a very large “incisional hernia”, and I was told that I needed further surgery to fix it.'
'This would be my fourth major surgery since the start of it all, but I had no option.'
In his social media post, Feehily confirmed his temporary hiatus from the band, expressing his regret and thanking fans for their support and understanding.
'Believe me, I wish things could be different!'
'I would like to thank you so very much for your support and understanding of me and my health over the past few years.'
You can read Feehily’s full post below:
Source: Instagram/@markusmoments.
Feehily also thanked his family and friends for their unwavering support and his daughter for being his 'daily motivation'.
He felt devastated missing out on the concerts but said he looked forward to future performances.
'For now, I have to make the right decision for my health and well-being, for my family, and for myself as a person. Please don’t worry.'
Westlife, formed in 1998, has been a staple in the pop music scene, producing hits like 'Queen of My Heart', 'My Love', and 'Swear It Again'.
The remaining members, Filan, Egan, and Byrne, released a joint statement on Westlife’s social media account following Feehily’s announcement.
'We would like to take this opportunity to send our brother, best friend and fellow bandmate, Mark, so many well wishes as he takes the necessary time he needs to recover,' they said.
'Mark has been so strong in continuing to show up on stage despite going through such a turbulent time with his health, and we completely respect that he must now focus on getting better so he can return to the stage when he is fit and well to do so!'
'In the meantime, we will continue to fly the Westlife flag higher than ever for you guys.'
Their tour is set to begin on 11 March in Toronto, Canada.
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