‘Dementia Is Cruel’: Award Winning Soap Star Breaks Silence on Heartbreaking Family Health Battle

Emmerdale star Danny Miller stays busy on screen as legacy character Aaron Dingle, son of Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter), but the actor has now come to social media to share a really personal story with his fans.

Miller posted a photo of himself and his father on Instagram, captioning it with a story about their day together.

“Had a really good visit with my Dad today,” he began. The award-winning actor even joked that they had such a good visit that he didn’t even have to block on the Manchester badge on his dad’s shirt, referring to the soccer team his father supports.

“We went to our old stomping ground where we’d sit for hours talking, drinking, eating and mostly… laughing 😂,” he shared.

That is when Miller opened up about his father’s medical condition. “Dementia is cruel. So cruel,” he shared.

However, the visit he shared with his dad was on a good day. “I saw the old personality shine through and hide the nasty face of the illness,” he wrote.

With that said, sadly for Miller, it was only a brief moment, because as quickly as he saw the glimpse of his father, it was gone again. “Then come the same questions you’ve just answered. About family, work, life in general. Frustration kicks in. ‘I’ve just answered that,'” the actor added.

Nevertheless, Miller says he is happy for days like today, which he gets to experience with his dad. “It is the days like today I hold onto,” he shared.

The actor opened up further, explaining that, for him, life’s been hard, but at the end of the day, that’s still his dad. “He’s still in there. And there are more important things in life than a stressful period.”

Miller reminds his followers to cherish the moments that they have with their family. If they don’t have family, he hopes they remember them with a smile.

For those whose parents are suffering from illnesses, Miller sent his support, ending his post by writing, “If like me, they’re still with you in body but not in soul — I send you all the power, love and strength we all need to see through this illness and see the good old days — like I have today.”

Emmerdale airs weekdays on iTV in the U.K. and streams daily officially on BritBox and YouTube in the United States.