Made in Chelsea’s Sam Vanderpump has spoken about his plan for raising his newborn baby with his fiancée, after he was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease.
The 28-year-old, who is the nephew of Vanderpump Rules and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump, opened up about his diagnosis in a recent episode of the E4 reality show.
In the episode, Sam told his Made In Chelsea co-stars Ollie Locke and Tabitha Willett that his life expectancy could only be a few years if he does not get a liver transplant.
In the emotional scene, Sam explained that he’s set to undergo an assessment next month, which will determine whether he can be approved for a transplant.
Sam, who is expecting his first child with fiancée Alice Yaxley in February, had been told of the prognosis in the days before the episode was filmed two months ago.
He has now spoken about his plans for life ahead with his fiancée Alice, after the couple moved to a new south-west London flat together a month ago.
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The couple are already starting to prepare for their newborn, with a cot and partly-decorated nursery for their baby boy, who they are intending to call Marmaduke, with the nickname Duke.
Sam has also said in an interview with Daily Mail that they have installed a sofa bed in the living room for a specific purpose.
‘If something did happen and we had a very young baby – say I was very unwell and Alice was overwhelmed – someone would be able to stay to help with the baby,’ Sam told the publication.
His fiancée Alice replied: ‘Don’t be silly. Everything will be fine.’
What is end-stage liver disease?
End-stage liver disease (ESLD) is the final stage of liver damage, where the liver is so scarred and damaged that it can no longer function properly.
This irreversible condition is the result of chronic liver diseases, such as advanced cirrhosis or acute liver failure.
Symptoms include fatigue, jaundice, swelling, confusion, and abdominal pain, and treatment may involve a liver transplant if the liver function is severely compromised.
To find out more about end-stage liver disease on the NHS website, click here.
Sam also revealed that the couple are planning to tie the knot this December, at a registry office with some family, but aren’t calling it their wedding, because the big, full-blown affair will be in summer 2027.
In the interview with Mail, Sam also opened up about the survival rates for those with his condition.
‘When you first read it, it’s terrifying,’ he said. ‘It says there’s a 95 per cent chance [of survival] at year one, 90 per cent at year five, 80 per cent at year ten and then it starts to drop so, after 25 years, it’s fifty-fifty.
‘You always think you’re going to live to 90-odd, but past the age of 53, I’ve got a fifty-fifty chance. That’s mental.’
The Made in Chelsea star recalled filming the moment he made his diagnosis public on the reality show and said the end result ‘plays down’ what was a very emotional day on set.
‘I was sobbing. Ollie was sobbing. Tabitha was sobbing,’ he said. ‘It was so raw… In private, I’m still very, very emotional and you can probably see at times I’m on the edge. But I won’t break down.’
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