Actor tells of his family’s anguish in health battles
JOHNNY Ward has revealed he has moved home to be with his mother after she suffered a heart attack.
The former Love/hate star, 31, said his mum’s health issues arose a day after he performed during the final of Dancing With The Stars last month.
He also opened up about how he had to move away from his girlfriend Rachel Tracey to provide this care.
Johnny said: “I got a phone call the day after the final of Dancing With The Stars to say my mum was in hospital after having a heart attack.
“It was actually funny because I was questioning whether somebody had put a curse on my family. She has broken heart syndrome, which is actually a thing.”
Johnny’s father John, 73, died last month after being diagnosed with cancer.
The former Fair City actor explained how not living with his girlfriend Rachel Tracey to be with his mum has stirred emotions.
He told RSVP Live: “I have moved back in with her and things are looking up.
“It is a difficult road and we are broken hearted but
Johnny Ward it is so much easier when there is somebody with you.
“As much as you try and move on with your life, you are looking at a wheelchair, stairlift and commode.
“It is a constant reminder of the terrible thing that happened.”
Despite moving away from his dancer girlfriend, he said she is still there to support him in a time of grief and loss.
He added: “Rachel and I aren’t living together, obviously with the situation but she has been very strong.”
Johnny also told how of the pain when his pal David, 23, took his own life in 2012.
He said: “It was very tough and I went to counselling afterwards.
“What happened to my father was horrible but it was nothing along the lines of what happened to David.”
Following a busy start to the year, Johnny is reprising his role of Gino Wildes in Copper Face Jacks: The Musical.
The show will run at the Olympia Theatre from July 10 until August 10.
Admitted he is no stranger to the Dublin nightclub, Johnny joked: “Coppers is always the place you end up on a night out, you never set out to go there.”