Tom Parker’s The Wished bandmate Siva Kaneswaren has opened up on the impact of the loss of life of the dad of two in March 2022 on the age of simply 33, following an 18-month battle with an inoperable grade-four glioblastoma – a kind of terminal mind tumour. Siva is supporting Reminiscence Financial institution – a brand new artwork set up which explores and celebrates, by means of the first-hand experiences of mind most cancers sufferers and their family and friends, the facility of constructing each second depend, and it has brought about him to mirror on his personal experiences. Talking solely to Specific.co.uk, he revealed Tom’s premature loss of life impressed him to face his personal fears.
“Tom was squeezing life out each second when he was identified, and I used to be reminded after his passing how loss of life teaches you tips on how to stay. Going ahead, instantly after that, I signed as much as do all of the issues I am petrified of as a result of it was not as scary as what he had gone by means of. Although I used to be terrified, I did Superstar SAS. I skated on knives on Dancing on Ice and received to the semi-final. I did an entire tribute to him on that present,” he recalled.
“I did so many issues that I used to be terrified of. I did a theatre present as a result of I wished to study Spanish, and abruptly a theatre present got here in that you just sing in Spanish. I did all that, all actually, straight after his passing. I additionally related with my household once more,” he stated, revealing that he had just lately paid a shock go to dwelling to his native Eire from his dwelling in LA for his mom’s birthday.
Reflecting on his closing days with Tom acknowledges there have been a whole lot of tears. “We received so shut in the direction of the top. We cleared the air. We stated issues we by no means thought we might say to one another. We cried so much collectively. Every little thing simply appeared so small now, and all the issues we had – we at all times butted heads, we at all times had tempers – the recollections we made collectively I will cherish,” he stated.
Following Tom’s loss of life, Siva and the opposite members of The Wished discovered themselves within the uncommon place of getting to grieve in public – one thing he mentioned with one of many few individuals who would perceive what it felt like.
“I used to be speaking to Danny from The Script just lately after I bumped to him in Malibu after a hike and he is additionally misplaced his brother from his band (The Script guitarist Mark Sheehan died in April 2023 on the age of 43) and I hadn’t talked to anybody else who had the very same expertise as me within the public eye, and we had been each simply saying how weird it’s to grieve in public.
“However typically the remedy itself is speaking about it in public, simply getting it out and simply letting individuals know,” he stated. “It is not straightforward. I’m on a US tour with The Wished 2.0, and each time I sing Gold Perpetually, the start of that music is Tom’s piece; I’ve to speak about him. I’ve to get it out, as a result of if I do not get it out, I simply get so upset,” he confessed.
He admitted that these emotions have led him to again the Reminiscence Financial institution marketing campaign. “One of many prime fears of people that get glioblastoma is dropping their reminiscence. It occurs in a short time. This set up brings consciousness to optimistic recollections.
“It related with me as a result of Tom Parker and his household actually known as themselves the optimistic Parkers. We did not do negativity or stress. We actually laughed all the best way, and it actually helped greater than something.
“When Tom received identified, he was given six months to a yr of life expectancy. He lasted for 18 months with totally different remedies. He did a lot in 18 months. I received to witness a non secular warrior.”
The Reminiscence Financial institution set up is displayed at Westgate Purchasing Centre in Oxford earlier than being showcased on the GenesisCare Centre in Oxford later within the autumn. It’s also accessible through the GenesisCare web site. For extra info, go to the web site.
