Beloved Better Homes and Gardens star Melissa King has recalled the moment she needed to tell her bosses about her secret health battle after suffering a “terrifying” incident on live TV.
The gardening guru was broadcasting a segment live for breakfast program Sunrise at a Melbourne flower show earlier this year when her face spasmed beyond her control.
Unknown to her producers, back in 2017 a non-cancerous tumour medically known as a meningioma was found in her brain lining, close to her ear – a condition she kept secret from everyone but some close friends and family.
Although a meningioma is most often benign as in King’s case, it doesn’t make her ordeal any less frightening.
In a new interview featured in the Australian Women’s Weekly October issue released today, King opened up about the incident, which occurred in front of hundreds and thousands of Sunrise viewers.
“I could feel the stretching and tightening as the right side of my face contorted, and I knew everyone watching at home could see it too,” she told magazine.
“That morning was awful. I could hear the producers say, ‘Melissa, are you OK?’”
After her 2017 diagnosis, King underwent six-monthly MRI scans to monitor her tumour. The TV personality and horticulturalist said doctors were able to maintain the tumour’s size for four years.
However, in 2021 the tumour grew slightly and doctors suggested King either undergo brain surgery to remove it or radiotherapy to shrink the growth.
With two sons to consider – Noah, 11, and Marlon, 9 – King opted for the latter, “less invasive” option. She completed 15 sessions of radiotherapy without telling any of her Better Home and Gardens colleagues.
Everything went to plan and she felt no side effects until February this year when during her shower she said the right side of her face spasmed, like she was having a stroke.
It was after this incident coupled with the Sunrise segment that she knew she had to come clean to the cast and crew, who have been “amazing”.
“Most of my segments are filmed so we can stop the camera if I need to wait until it passes,” she said.
“People have been incredibly understanding and supportive, and I’m so grateful.”
King has since taken to Instagram to thank the AWW for telling her story and to assure fans she is OK.
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“So – I’ve been going through a bit of health stuff that I haven’t shared till now – the good news is that I’m okay but it’s been an emotional roller coaster,” she wrote in her caption as she shared images from the photo shoot.
“When I wanted to share what I was going through publicly I couldn’t think of a better way to do it than through a magazine that’s been telling beautiful stories and gracing our stands for 90 years. Thank you so much to @womensweeklymag for sharing my story so beautifully and so compassionately and for the gorgeous photo shoot with my family.”
“A big thanks too, to all my friends and family who have supported me along the way. Here’s to blue skies ahead!”
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