Al Jazeera witnessed injured civilians arriving at an Aleppo hospital as intense artillery fire streaked across the sky and ricocheted off buildings. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian army have been engaged in increasingly intense fighting after integration talks broke down.
Published On 8 Jan 20268 Jan 2026
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LOUISE Thompson has provided her fans with an update after her son was taken to hospital with bleeding tonsils.
The reality star, 35, who has faced several health challenges including ulcerative colitis, lupus, and PTSD, revealed today how her four-year-old was rushed to hospital.
She took to social media to share a snap of him hooked up to a series of machines while lying on a hospital bed before she gave fans an update.
In the first update shared hours after the initial post about her son leo, Louise penned: “Thank you for your kind messages.
“He is doing really really well and as always has been looked after incredibly well by the angels of our universe (I feel a suitable LinkedIn job description for nurses and doctors).
“I think I have the most supportive mum following on here ever. You guys are so brilliant – so practical, resourceful and everyone has dealt with some kind of drama at some point over their life so between 1.5million of you I think we have nearly everything covered.”
She added in the next post: “I did night shift, dad will switch in and do day shift as my breath and hair is horrendous. TMI. Now time for some of my own medication.”
Earlier today, Louise told her followers how she had rushed the youngster to hospital after his struggle with “bleeding tonsils”.
Alongside the snap showing him in the ward, she wrote: “Nothing like a wild start to the year.
“Hopefully just a temporary blip.
“Anyone else’s child had bleeding tonsils before?”
Bleeding tonsils can be a sign of infection, potentially after tonsillitis, or following surgery.
This comes after Louise had a hospital dash of her own on Christmas Eve.
She had to previously undergo the removal of her entire large intestine (colon) due to her inflammatory bowel condition, which resulted in her getting her life-saving stoma bag.
But on Christmas Eve, Louise revealed she had spent a large chunk of time in hospital having a procedure.
Louise underwent a proctoscopy, which, according to the NHS, is an examination where an endoscopist looks directly at the anal canal with a small rigid proctoscope.
Taking to her Instagram page to reveal her hospital visit and explain what she had done.
“Looks dramatic but it wasn’t. I had a proctoscopy today. It’s like a colonoscopy but not as invasive because I don’t have a colon so there isn’t very far the camera can go,” she penned over the first slide.
“Still bloody awkward and a tiny bit uncomfortable but fentanyl is a wonder drug,” she penned.
The ex-president’s wife says he fell out of his prison bed while sleeping and hit his head.
Published On 6 Jan 20266 Jan 2026
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Brazil’s jailed ex-president, Jair Bolsonaro, fell and struck his head in his prison cell, but his request to go to a hospital was denied by the country’s top judge.
The 70-year-old right-wing leader fell out of bed while sleeping and hit his head on a piece of furniture, his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.
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“We are going to the hospital. My love will undergo exams,” Michelle Bolsonaro said.
However, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes denied Bolsonaro’s request to immediately leave prison for tests at a hospital in Brasilia.
The federal police said in a statement that Bolsonaro received initial medical treatment in the morning, adding that a federal police doctor “found minor injuries” and saw no need for hospitalisation.
“Any referral to a hospital depends on authorisation from the Supreme Court,” it added.
Bolsonaro, who was stabbed in the abdomen during a 2018 campaign event, has a history of hospitalisations and surgeries related to the attack.
Citing the police report, de Moraes said in his decision that there is no need for Bolsonaro to be immediately taken to hospital. The judge said his legal team has the right to request exams for Bolsonaro, but lawyers must schedule them in advance and provide information justifying the procedures.
Bolsonaro underwent a series of medical procedures in December to treat a hernia and hiccups.
He was discharged from hospital on January 1 and taken back to the Federal Police Superintendency in Brasilia, where he is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 presidential election.
A BELOVED influencer, actor and Broadway star has died after a lengthy battle with a rare form of cancer.
Bret Hanna-Shuford, 46, passed away just days after posting a heartbreaking photo from his hospital bed of him smiling alongside his husband.
Dad-of-one Bret shared a positive Christmas Day picture where he tragically looked ahead to 2026 and said “hope to see you all soon”.
On Saturday, his partner Stephen Hanna confirmed the sad news that Bret had peacefully passed away.
Stephen said: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that early this morning we said goodbye to the most amazing man, husband and Papa in the universe.
“Bret Hanna-Shuford left this world peacefully with love surrounded by his family.
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“Our hearts are broken but we will continue to make him proud of us.”
He leaves behind his young three-year-old son, Maverick.
The actor, who had roles in the Wolf of Wall Street, Little Mermaid and Wicked, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer over the summer.
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and T-Cell Lymphoma – both rare disorders – left Bret in and out of hospital in his final months.
Both cancers attack the body’s immune system with T-Cell Lymphoma being among the deadliest forms of the disease.
Bret and Stephen were best known for their ever-growing social media page which detailed their family life.
Broadway Husbands managed to amass over 255,000 followers at the time of Bret’s death.
The account would go on to update followers on Bret’s health in recent months.
In October, he revealed he spent three days unconscious in the ICU due to the disease attacking his immune system.
His illness also forced Bret to step away from his graduate studies at the University of Central Florida.
The couple had only just moved into their new home in Orlando at the time.
A GoFundMe was launched for the Broadway star in August.
As of Saturday evening, the page has raised over $315,000 of its $350,000 fundraising goal.
One of the final posts on the fundraiser from December 12, stated how Bret had been in hospital since Thanksgiving.
A post from a friend read: “As many of you may have noticed, posts have been rather radio silent from both Bret and Stephen.
“These past few weeks have been some of the toughest that they have faced in this cancer journey. Bret has been in the hospital since just before Thanksgiving.”
But Bret was believed to have been improving health wise.
“As of today, Bret is looking and feeling better. His liver enzymes have plateaued, which is good, and he is back in the right direction with his oxygen,” the post continued.
Bret had many small-screen film and TV credits, including a 2018 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and a 2023 appearance on the cop drama series FBI: Most Wanted.
He also directed an episode of the Emmy Award-winning Hulu series Only Murders in the Building in 2023, according to his IMDb page.
Bret is also known for his acting and producing work on Disney Royals, Disney Animazent Trio IRL, and In Rehearsal with… Stranger Things the Musical.
He and Stephen, who works at Walt Disney World, tied the knot in April 2011.
Social mediaBritish heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has been discharged from hospital in Nigeria days after a fatal car accident that killed two of his close friends.
The former world champion was deemed fit to recuperate at home, the Ogun and Lagos states said in a joint statement, describing him as “heavy hearted” over the loss of his friends.
The 36-year-old was a passenger in a Lexus SUV that collided with a stationary truck on a major expressway in Ogun State, near Lagos, on Monday.
The two men who died were Joshua’s close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele.
After leaving the hospital on Wednesday, the Briton visited the funeral home where the bodies of his friends were “being prepared for repatriation”, the joint statement added.
Earlier, Eddie Hearn, who has promoted Joshua since he turned professional after winning gold at the 2012 Olympics, paid tribute to Joshua’s close friends and team members.
“Rest in peace Latz and Sina,” Hearn posted on Instagram.
“Your energy and loyalty among so many other great qualities will be deeply missed. Praying for strength and guidance for all their family, friends and of course AJ during this very difficult time.”
Ghami was Joshua’s full-time sport and exercise rehabilitation coach and worked with him for more than 10 years.
Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, Ogun State police spokesperson Oluseyi Babaseyi said “investigations are still ongoing” and described the process as “still discreet”.
The Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) in Ogun state, where the accident occurred, has said preliminary investigations showed the vehicle had burst a tyre before crashing into the truck.
Joshua, who was born in Watford to Nigerian parents, was on holiday in Nigeria after his win over Jake Paul in Miami on 19 December.
Earlier, Tony Bellew, the retired cruiserweight world champion, posted on X: “Thoughts and prayers to the families of these men. Tragic losses in horrific circumstances!
“I hope he (Joshua) is able to process this with time because there is no pain in life worse than grief.”
Two-time undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and British former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury also posted Instagram stories to offer condolences.
ACTRESS Melanie Watson died on Friday in Colorado Springs.
Best known for her role on the 80s TV show “Diff’rent Strokes”, she passed away aged 57.
The Diff’rent Strokes actress had been in hospital where she quickly deteriorated, TMZ reported.
Robert Watson, Melanie’s brother told the outlet that she died on December 26.
He said his sister had been suffering bleeding, and that doctors did their best to help her.
Watson was born in Dana Point, California, with a condition called osteogenesis imperfecta, which causes bones to fracture easily.
The disease can also cause a curved spine, difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, and other issues.
The actress’ brother told TMZ that she was lucky to have lived as long as she did with her condition.
Robert said he would always think of Melanie.
She played Arnold’s pal Kathy Gordon on the 1980s TV show Diff’rent Strokes, appearing in four episodes of the hit show.
Her character used a wheelchair, just as the child star did in real life.
In 1982, she appeared in an episode called Kathy, named after her character.
In the episode, Kathy argued with Gary Coleman’s character, Arnold, after he tried to convince her to walk without using crutches.
Watson retired from showbiz after her run on hit show Diff’rent Strokes ended.
Later, she was married to Roger Bernhardt, for four years between 1994 and 1996.
Known professionally as Melanie Bernhardt, the child star was the founder and executive director of Train Rite, an organisation that trains shelter dogs to help disabled people.
In 2020, the the actress began a run for the Colorado State Senate, but pulled out of the race as “unforeseeable health conditions” derailed her campaign.
In 2024, she had expressed hopes of running for political office again.
Watson spoke about her TV stardom in a 2020 interview with IndieWire, describing herself as “a pill” to work with.
She said: “I was always playing with my yo-yo and listening to my Walkman.”
Talking about representing disabled people like her on screen, Watson said: “I didn’t realise what a gift it was to be the first one out there.
If I had to do it all over again, I would have stayed in the business.”
MADE In Chelsea star Louise Thompson was forced to spend Christmas Eve in hospital amid her ongoing health battle, she has revealed.
The reality star, 35, has faced several health challenges including ulcerative colitis, lupus, and PTSD after giving birth to her son, Leo.
She had to previously undergo the removal of her entire large intestine (colon) due to her inflammatory bowel condition, which resulted in her getting her life-saving stoma bag.
But on Christmas Eve, Louise revealed she had spent a large chunk of time in hospital having a procedure.
Louise underwent a proctoscopy, which, according to the NHS, is an examination where an endoscopist looks directly at the anal canal with a small rigid proctoscope.
Taking to her Instagram page to reveal her hospital visit and explain what she had done, Louise shared some snaps in a gown.
“Looks dramatic but it wasn’t. I had a proctoscopy today. It’s like a colonoscopy but not as invasive because I don’t have a colon so there isn’t very far the camera can go,” she penned over the first slide.
“Still bloody awkward and a tiny bit uncomfortable but fentanyl is a wonder drug,” she penned.
She then shared a photo of her with a nasal cannula on her face and inserted into her nostrils.
Louise went on to pen: “These appointments are so important and they managed to fit me in quite urgently so I jumped at the offering of a 24th December date, then when it came around I realised the magnitude of it being Christmas Eve.
“What it REALLY made me think was…
“Despite all the chaos of what I’ve been through, I still think we are incredibly lucky to have the NHS which NEVER clocks off in case of emergencies.”
She then added on the next slide: “The NHS never sleeps.
“I had a proctoscope today.
“A nice little Christmas Eve camera up my bum.
“The NHS was still running in full swing. Well not quite, but you know what I mean.
“It prompted me to say a big thank you to everyone that is working as part of the NHS over the bank holidays.”
She then concluded: “Thanks for keeping the country ticking along and for keeping our loved ones alive.”
Reasons for getting a proctoscopy include bleeding from your anus, pain in the lower abdomen (tummy), persistent diarrhoea or changes to your bowel habits.
London, United Kingdom – Two Palestine Action-affiliated remand prisoners on hunger strike have been taken to hospital, according to a family member and a friend, adding to fears that the young Britons refusing food in protest could die at any moment.
Twenty-eight-year-old Kamran Ahmed, who is being held at Pentonville prison in London, was hospitalised on Saturday, his sister, Shahmina Alam, told Al Jazeera.
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Amu Gib, 30, who has not eaten food for 50 days at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, was taken to hospital on Friday, said the Prisoners for Palestine group and friend Nida Jafri, who is in regular contact with them. Gib uses the pronoun they.
Ahmed and Gib are among six detainees protesting across five prisons over their alleged involvement in break-ins at the United Kingdom’s subsidiary of the Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems in Bristol and a Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire.
They deny the charges against them, such as burglary and violent disorder.
“It’s day 42 [of Ahmed’s hunger strike], and at this point, there’s significant risk of organ damage,” said his sister, Alam. “We know that he’s rapidly been losing weight in the last few days, losing up to half a kilogram [1.1lbs] a day.”
Ahmed’s last recorded weight was 60kg (132lbs).
When Al Jazeera first interviewed Alam on December 12, Ahmed, who is 180cm (5′ 11”), weighed 64kg (141lbs), having entered prison at a healthy 74kg (163lbs). On Thursday, Alam told journalists at a news conference in London that he weighed 61.5kg (136lbs).
Ahmed’s speech was slurred in a call with the family on Friday, said Alam. He is said to be suffering from high ketone levels and chest pains.
“Honestly, I don’t know how he’s going to come out of this one,” said Alam.
It is the third time Ahmed has been hospitalised since he joined the hunger strike.
![Shahmina Alam with Kamran Ahmed - Palestine Action linked hunger striker [Courtesy of Alam family]](https://i0.wp.com/www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/WhatsApp-Image-2025-12-15-at-15.26.19-1-1765801678.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
The hunger strikers’ demands include immediate bail, the right to a fair trial and the de-proscription of Palestine Action, which accuses the UK government of complicity in Israel’s war crimes in Gaza. The UK government banned Palestine Action in July, branding it a “terror” group, a label that applies to groups such as ISIL (ISIS).
The protesters have called for an end to their alleged censorship in prison, accusing authorities of withholding mail, calls and books. They are also urging that all Elbit sites be closed.
The six are expected to be held for more than a year until their trial dates, well beyond the UK’s six-month pre-trial detention limit.
Qesser Zuhrah, a 20-year-old who has refused food for 50 days, is also in hospital, having lost 13 percent of her body weight, according to her lawyers. The other protesters are Heba Muraisi, Teuta Hoxha and Lewie Chiaramello, who is diabetic and refuses food every other day.
There was no immediate comment from either Pentonville or HMP Bronzefield.
Gib called their friend, Jafri, on Thursday from prison, telling her they needed a wheelchair to attend a doctor’s appointment where their vital signs would be checked.
Prison staff at first “refused” to provide a wheelchair, and later, after offering one, “refused to push” it, Jafri said. “So they laid there with … no check of their vitals on day 47 of their hunger strike,” Jafri said.
When they are hospitalised, the prisoners are unable to call their loved ones, as they can from jail.
Jafri told Al Jazeera, “I’m scared they’re there alone with no phones and no calls allowed.”
Gib, who has lost more than 10kg (22lbs), is below the normal range for most health indicators, which is “highly concerning” for their immune system, their lawyers have said.
Prison officials have “failed to provide [Gib] with thiamine [a vitamin] consistently, and Amu is feeling the effects on their cognitive function”, the lawyers said.
Gib’s eyes are also “sore with the bright [prison] lights”, Jafri said.
The lawyers have demanded a meeting with Secretary of State for Justice David Lammy, hoping his intervention could be life-saving. Thousands of everyday Britons, hundreds of doctors and dozens of MPs have urged Lammy to heed their call. But so far, he has refused, leading critics to accuse the UK government of wilfully ignoring the issue.
The UK media have also been accused of downplaying the protest and its dangers.
The protest is said to be the largest coordinated hunger strike in UK prisons since 1981, when Irish Republican inmates led by Bobby Sands refused food.
“In contrast to the robust media coverage of the Irish hunger strikes in the 1980s, the Palestine Action hunger strikes have been largely met with media silence,” wrote Bart Cammaerts, a professor of politics and communication at the London School of Economics.
“What will it take for the British media to pay attention to the plight of jailed pro-Palestinian activists? The death of an activist? Or the awakening of a moral conscience?”
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday unveiled a series of regulatory actions designed to effectively ban gender-affirming care for minors, building on broader Trump administration restrictions on transgender Americans.
The sweeping proposals — the most significant moves this administration has taken so far to restrict the use of puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgical interventions for transgender children — include cutting off federal Medicaid and Medicare funding from hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children and prohibiting federal Medicaid dollars from being used to fund such procedures.
“This is not medicine, it is malpractice,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said of gender-affirming procedures on children in a news conference on Thursday. “Sex-rejecting procedures rob children of their futures.”
Kennedy also announced Thursday that the HHS Office of Civil Rights will propose a rule excluding gender dysphoria from the definition of a disability.
In a related move, the Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to a dozen companies that market chest-binding vests and other equipment used by people with gender dysphoria. Manufacturers include GenderBender LLC of Carson, California and TomboyX of Seattle. The FDA letters state that chest binders can only be legally marketed for FDA-approved medical uses, such as recovery after mastectomy surgery.
Medicaid programs in slightly less than half of states currently cover gender-affirming care. At least 27 states have adopted laws restricting or banning the care. The Supreme Court’s recent decision upholding Tennessee’s ban means most other state laws are likely to remain in place.
Thursday’s announcements would imperil access in nearly two dozen states where drug treatments and surgical procedures remain legal and funded by Medicaid, which includes federal and state dollars.
The proposals announced by Kennedy and his deputies are not final or legally binding. The federal government must go through a lengthy rulemaking process, including periods of public comment and document rewrites, before the restrictions becoming permanent. They are also likely to face legal challenges.
But the proposed rules will likely further intimidate health care providers from offering gender-affirming care to children and many hospitals have already ceased such care in anticipation of federal action.
Nearly all U.S. hospitals participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the federal government’s largest health plans that cover seniors, the disabled and low-income Americans. Losing access to those payments would imperil most U.S. hospitals and medical providers.
The same funding restrictions would apply to a smaller health program when it comes to care for people under the age of 19, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, according to a federal notice posted Thursday morning.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, on Thursday called transgender treatments “a Band-Aid on a much deeper pathology,” and suggested children with gender dysphoria are “confused, lost and need help.”
Polling shows many Americans agree with the administration’s view of the issue. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey conducted earlier this year found that about half of U.S. adults approved of how Trump was handling transgender issues.
Chloe Cole, a conservative activist known for speaking about her gender-transition reversal, spoke at the news conference to express appreciation. She said cries for help from her and others in her situation, “have finally been heard.”
But the approach contradicts the recommendations of most major U.S. medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, which has urged states not to restrict care for gender dysphoria.
Advocates for transgender children strongly refuted the administration’s claims about gender-affirming care and said Thursday’s moves would put lives at risk.
“In an effort to strongarm hospitals into participating in the administration’s anti-LGBTQ agenda, the Trump Administration is forcing health care systems to choose between providing lifesaving care for LGBTQ+ young people and accepting crucial federal funding,” Dr. Jamila Perritt, a Washington-based OB/GYN and president and CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health, said in a statement. “This is a lose-lose situation where lives are inevitably on the line. “
Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, senior vice president at The Trevor Project, a nonprofit suicide prevention organization for LBGTQ+ youth, called the changes a “one-size-fits-all mandate from the federal government” on a decision that should be between a doctor and patient.
“The multitude of efforts we are seeing from federal legislators to strip transgender and nonbinary youth of the health care they need is deeply troubling,” he said.
The announcements build on a wave of actions President Trump, his administration and Republicans in Congress have taken to target the rights of transgender people nationwide.
On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order that declared the federal government would recognize only two immutable sexes: male and female. He also has signed orders aimed at cutting off federal support for gender transitions for people under age 19 and barring transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.
On Wednesday, a bill that would open transgender health care providers to prison time if they treat people under the age of 18 passed the U.S. House and heads to the Senate. Another bill under consideration in the House on Thursday aims to ban Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care for children.
Young people who persistently identify as a gender that differs from their sex assigned at birth are first evaluated by a team of professionals. Some may try a social transition, involving changing a hairstyle or pronouns. Some may later also receive hormone-blocking drugs that delay puberty, followed by testosterone or estrogen to bring about the desired physical changes in patients. Surgery is rare for minors.
Swenson, Perrone and Shastri write for the Associated Press. Shastri reported from Milwaukee. AP writer Geoff Mulvihill contributed to this report.
Anthony Geary, the Daytime Emmy winner who played half of “General Hospital’s” supercouple Luke Spencer and Laura Baldwin, died Sunday. He was 78.
“The entire #GeneralHospital family is heartbroken over the news of Tony Geary’s passing. Tony was a brilliant actor and set the bar that we continue to strive for,” “GH” executive producer Frank Valentini wrote on Monday in two posts on X. “His legacy, and that of Luke Spencer’s, will live on through the generations of #GH cast members who have followed in his footsteps. We send our sincerest sympathies to his husband, Claudio, family, and friends. May he rest in peace.”
The actor died of complications a few days after having planned surgery in Amsterdam, the city he and spouse Claudio Gama called home, Soap Opera Digest reported.
“It was a shock for me and our families and our friends,” Gama told TV Insider exclusively Monday, saying that for more than three decades Geary had been his friend, companion and — for the past six years — his husband.
Geary notched almost 2,000 episodes on “General Hospital,” where he started as a cast member in 1978. Along the way he took a number of breaks from the show before wrapping up his “GH” career in 2015.
Even with those breaks, Daytime Emmys voters nominated Geary 17 times in the lead actor category. He took home the trophy eight times, in 1982, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2015.
Despite their plot line beginning with Luke drunkenly raping Laura — played by Genie Francis — only to have her fall in love with her rapist, their love story became insanely popular in the early 1980s, appealing to a younger audience and saving the series from cancellation. The characters got married in November 1981. The audience for the wedding, which aired over two days, was around 30 million viewers and remains the highest-rated soap opera event in history.
Tony Dean Geary was born on May 29, 1947, in the town of Coalville, Utah, and raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After studying theater at the University of Utah, he began his acting career with roles on shows including “Room 222,” “All in the Family,” “The Partridge Family” and “Mod Squad” in the early 1970s. “General Hospital” cast him in 1978, but not before he added shows including “Barnaby Jones,” “The Streets of San Francisco” and “Marcus Welby, M.D.” to his resume. He racked up dozens more credits in his career, but nothing that brought him the fame that “GH” did.
When Geary left “GH” for good in 2015, some former colleagues talked to The Times about working with him.
Jane Elliot, who played another Spencer love interest, Tracy Quartermaine, recalled in 2015 that she acted with Geary when he first screen-tested for the role that was supposed to be only a 13-week arc.
“It’s always awkward with an actor you don’t know,” she told The Times. “I was walking down this flight of stars, and I pass Tony, who is doodling on a piece of paper. He’s doing tic-tac-toe. I immediately know what kind of actor he is, doing something real in an unreal setting. I went up to him, put an O next to his X, and our relationship was established.”
“Tony’s friendship and guidance has meant the world to me,” said actor Jonathan Jackson, who was only 11 when he started on the soap as Lucky Spencer, Luke’s son. “He was always extremely warm and very present, there was nothing condescending in him. He never treated me like a kid. We clicked right away.”
The “Nashville” actor returned to the show after many years away to help Geary wrap up the Spencers’ story.
”When I found out he was leaving, I knew I had to come back,” Jackson said at the time. “He was great. Having those last scenes with me were everything I hoped it would be.”
Meanwhile, on Monday, co-star Genie Francis, who is still on “GH,” remembered her former on-screen love on social media.
“This morning I woke up and went into my husband’s arms. In my sleep, my life was flashing before me and I was afraid of death.” An hour later, she wrote on Facebook, producer Valentini called to tell her that Geary had died.
“I immediately felt remorse, I hadn’t spoken to him in years, but I felt his life end in my sleep last night, and with it a big part of me, and mine,” Francis continued. “He was a powerhouse as an actor. Shoulder to shoulder with the greats. No star burned brighter than Tony Geary. He was one of a kind. As an artist, he was filled with a passion for the truth, no matter how blunt, or even a little rude it might be, but always hilariously funny. He was the anti-hero, always so irreverent, but even the most conservative had to smile. Working with him was always exciting. You never knew what might happen.
“He spoiled me for leading men for the rest of my life. I am crushed, I will miss him terribly, but I was so lucky to be his partner. Somehow, somewhere, we are connected to each other because I felt him leave last night. Good night sweet prince, good night.”
HOME And Away star Rachael Carpani shared a tragic post detailing her health struggles before her sudden death.
The Australian actress, 45, died after “a long battle with a chronic illness”, according to her heartbroken parents.
In 2021, she was rushed to hospital in Sydney after suffering from acute abdominal pain.
The issues caused Carpani, also known for her role in hit Aussie TV show McLeod’s Daughters, to even spend a few days in an intensive care unit before she was taken in for surgery.
She wrote at the time: “I was admitted to emergency with acute abdominal pain just over a week ago and spent a few days in the ICU.
“Was then moved to the surgical ward.”
Carpani said the pain had existed for some time before her issues severely worsened all of a sudden.
She added: “Basically it was a case of me not listening to my body and the pain [I tend to work through pain!] and allowing myself to get quite ill.”
She urged all her followers to always take note of any health woes and to get them checked out as soon as possible.
In a now heartbreaking post from last year, Carpani shared images of herself posing for a photoshoot following a bout of surgery.
Alongside the smiling images, Carpani explained: “My first time back in front of a camera for a photoshoot two days ago.
“No hospital gown, no awesome surgery socks ….[have to admit I miss the comfort].”
It is unclear what surgery the actress was recovering from at the time.
In June 2023, Carpani also underwent surgery on her eyes.
She wrote on Instagram: “After a life with horrific short-sightedness, wearing glasses from the age of 5, I bit the bullet and got ‘eyeball’ surgery.”
She later confirmed it was phakic intraocular lense replacement which is a vision correction surgery where a permanent artificial lens is implanted in the eye.
In an emotional statement, the star’s parents announced her shock passing.
They said: “It is with great sadness that Tony and Gael Carpani announce that their beautiful daughter, beloved Australian actress Rachael Carpani, unexpectedly but peacefully passed away after a long battle with chronic illness.”
She passed away on December 7 in the early hours of the morning.
Her family has said the funeral will be a “private event”.
Carpani was best known for her role as Jodi Fountain in the hit early 2000s series, McLeod’s Daughters.
She appeared on the show between 2001 and 2009 and earned two Logie nominations for her on-screen performance.
The Logies are Australia’s annual awards for television, celebrating Australian TV shows and personalities.
In 2007, Rachael was nominated for a Silver Logie for most popular actress, as well as the biggest award of the night, the Gold Logie.
She had also appeared in a number of films, including The Very Excellent Mr Dundee, Hating Alison Ashley and The Way Back.
More recently, she had a recurring role in hit Aussie soap Home and Away, playing Claudia Salini, an on-screen villain.
