TV presenter Johanna Griggs reveals pain of aunt's death

Johanna Griggs has revealed that she lost her aunt to motor neurone disease last year.

The Australian television presenter, who quit her job as a newsreader last year to concentrate on being a mum, said that the illness was "cruel", but it made her realise how "precious" both life and family are.

Griggs told New Idea magazine: "It was the most heartbreaking thing to witness, because Aunt Di, my mum's eldest sister, was a strong, vivacious woman with such dignity, who always carried herself so beautifully.

"This hideous disease took a toll very quickly and while her mind stayed as bright and active as ever, her body failed her completely. By the end she'd lost her voice, all ways of communication and all movement, so it was very cruel, very unfair."

Griggs continued: "It brought home how precious life is, but also how it can change in a heartbeat. All of us in the family realised that while there are so many things you can't control - cancer and illness, particularly, the sort of quality time you spend with one another isn't one of them.

"We don't just talk about getting together anymore - we do it."

Griggs said that losing her aunt helped her reinforce the importance of all the special relationships that she has with people, and she now appreciates how lucky she is.

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