Shane MacGowan’s old Pogues comrades have paid him visits while he is still in the hospital.
The iconic Irish artist has endured major health problems in recent years and has been in hospital for months, with his wife Victoria Mary Clarke frequently updating fans on his condition.
Last Christmas, the Fairytale of New York singer was hospitalised with the potentially fatal brain illness encephalitis, which may cause loss of mobility and difficulties speaking.
Shane has met celebrity guests ranging from Imelda May to Bruce Springsteen both at home and from his hospital bed in the year afterward.
In November, Victoria posted a selfie of herself kissing her husband while he lay in the hospital, saying she was experiencing ‘terrifying thoughts of loss.’
She has now posted another photo of her husband in bed, appearing fragile but happy, and told that his Pogues bandmates have come to see him.
She gave a ‘massive thanks to everyone who has been messaging me and [Shane],’ before thanking Richard ‘Spider’ Stacy and Terry Woods, who played with The Pogues, for ‘coming to visit him’.
‘Love and prayers for everyone who is struggling right now. Hang in there,’ Victoria wrote.
Shane looks up at the camera in the following shot, smiling despite having a high-flow nasal cannula implanted to help with his breathing.
Victoria revealed her dread of losing a loved one in a thoughtful and heartfelt Instagram post on Saturday, accompanied a photograph of her and Shane kissing.
She wrote: ‘Love is the most beautiful and powerful thing that we can experience as humans but love can also feel painful especially if you are afraid of losing a person or anything else that you love.’
In a long and wide-ranging statement, she called for the need to ‘acknowledge and appreciate and accept’ every part of love, even the painful parts.
‘Sometimes when you love very deeply you will find yourself facing terrifying fears of loss that can feel so big and devastating that you don’t know how you can survive them and you can’t imagine life without this person that you love.’
The author, who is well-known for her spiritual ideas and introspection, stated that she is aiming to ‘extend your consciousness beyond the confines of your intellect… Learn more about yourself, your soul, and your relationship with the person you love.
‘You might alternate between terror and a sense of peace,’ she wrote, adding ‘fear is an unknown place and this is what makes it so frightening.’
She finished: ‘Stay tuned in to love no matter what is happening in your world and keep inviting all of your angels and guides to support you and know that love is always the best choice.’
