It’s a tragic case of life imitating art. The young British actor Michael Sleggs, 33, best known for a TV character who died of cancer, has told his fans that he’s currently dying of terminal cancer himself.
Sleggs played a character named Michael ‘Slugs’ Slugette in the award-winning British mockumentary series “This Country”, and is a long time friend of its world renowned show creators Charlie and Daisy May Cooper. Sleggs’ character, who appeared in seven episodes, also battled terminal cancer. Slugs was introduced as a boring friend of This Country’s main characters Kerry and Kurtan, and starts a relationship with the village newcomer Kayleigh, after competing for her love with Kurtan.
He says that a lot of his stability comes from his faith. “If you’re wondering why I’m not sounding freaked out by the whole situation. Well, initially I was, but, as always in a time of crisis (should have been way before I’m ashamed to say) I turned to God and my Christian faith.
And that he’s been practicing his Christianity in a lot of different ways. “Been reading the Bible daily, listening to Christian songs and sermons and its changed my entire mindset to nothing but peace and gratitude.”
He wishes he’d started practicing his faith earlier, but other than that he’s feeling grateful. “Guys, regardless of a few medical issues, I have been blessed with the best life and the best friends and aside from not following God more diligently earlier in life I don’t have any regrets.”
Sleggs says thinks faith has something to offer his fans. “If you don’t know Jesus already, my only hope is that you get to know him before you get to my state. He’ll totally rock your world in the best way!”
Friends commented on the post to let Michael know they were there. “Jonny Davies You are a very brave person Michael, Sluggs is a great character, but Sleggs is a legend. X” wrote one friend.
“Dear Michael, in all this time of suffering, when words are to little and nothing really matters, I am reminded of the words in Psalm 23. I pray for you, for your family and for the time you have here. May He bless you in all things!” commented another.
And a third took the chance to recognize his comedic impact, commenting “Leila Sanosi Comedy legend, you are and always will be the face of this country. You've achieved amazing things, much love.”
We don’t know the specifics of Sleggs’ case, but we do know that awareness of dying can be an extremely difficult emotional and psychological journey.
Memorial Sloan Kettering's Dr. William S. Breitbart is an amazing voice on the psychological aspects of cancer, and he’s spoken to SurvivorNet in the past about some of problems that come up with cancer patients.
Dr. William Breitbart on the psychological and emotional challenges related to cancer
Learning to forgive yourself, Dr. Breibart said at the time, is one of the great lessons, and sometimes the last great lesson, you can ever learn in life.
About three months prior, Sleggs wrote in a facebook post, “I think I’m starting to run out of lives.”
A lot of friends commented with warm wishes and testimonies to his strength.
“Your a winner and you have a parade of awesome friends who will always be there for you, to quote galaxy quest “never give up, never surrender,” wrote one.
“Carolyn Doyle Your as tough as old boots remember that, mum Doyle,” wrote another.
“Well you keep on running there's so much more ahead in life for you,” commented a third.
Michael had just signed a deal with Austin Macaulay Publishers, to publish his first book, an ‘entertaining and irreverent’ autobiography called Memoirs Of A 90s School Boy, when he learned the sad news. The book is an autobiographical account of Sleggs’ primary school days and, he says, “the different people I met there.”
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