TV3's Martin King on wife's brain tumour battle: 'I felt so helpless'

VIP Style Awards 2014 at The Marker Hotel, Dublin, Ireland - 25.04.14. Pictures: Cathal Burke / VIPIRELAND.COM *** Local Caption *** Jenny McCarthy, Martin King

May 27 2014 08:57 AM

TV3's Martin King has opened up about the most devastating time of his life - when his beloved wife battled a brain tumour in 2010.

Martin and Jenny McCarthy, his photographer wife, have been together for 16 years (married for three), have five children together and are revered in Irish entertainment circles.

In 2010, Jenny was diagnosed with a brain tumour after visiting her family doctor for what felt like an 'intolerable' migraine.

As one of Ireland's most in-demand wedding photographers, Jenny is used to having to fight through the pain to get the job done, but she revealed she finally caved and visited her GP later that year. After an MRI scan and intensive surgery to remove the benign tumour, she was given the all-clear in February 2011.

"I felt complete helplessness, because you’re putting all your hopes into the hands of one man, hoping that the gifts that God has given him will suffice," Martin said.

"For me, on the sideline, it was a very, very difficult time, but it was even worse for Jenny. As for keeping it private, lots of people knew about it but nobody was writing about it, which I really appreciated and I really respected. Eventually, somebody did decide to write about it and it was against our wishes," they told RSVP.

Martin King and Jenny McCarthy marry at Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Kildare, Dublin, Ireland - 07.11.11. Pictures: VIPIRELAND.COM *** Local Caption *** Jenny McCarthy, Martin King

The couple wed in a romantic 2011 ceremony in Killashee House in Naas, County Kildare, a day which was featured on the cover of VIP Magazine.

Over 100 guests attended the couple's big day, including many of TV3's best-known faces who all paid tribute to their much-loved colleague.

King, who is currently hosting Late Lunch Live alongside Lucy Kennedy, even said that Jenny's health woes urged him to make their union official.

"When Jenny became sick I actually thought, 'Will I go ahead with this proposal, or should I put it off?' And then I just thought, 'No, I'm going to do it'. It was a lovely distraction as we nursed Jenny back to health," he said.

Jenny McCarthy, Martin King... Guests seen leaving the TVNow Awards at The Mansion House, Dublin, Ireland - 22.05.10. Pictures: VIPIRELAND.COM *** Local Caption *** Jenny McCarthy, Martin King