I'm a Celebrity's Coleen Rooney on the devastating loss of sister Rosie
Coleen Rooney poignantly shared her heartache last year about the loss of her sister, calling it "the worst thing that could happen". Known for being the wife of ex-England and Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, whom she met when they were both teenagers in Liverpool, Coleen's relationship with Wayne has been a subject of public fascination, charting both their trials and triumphs.
However, her appearance on 'I'm A Celebrity' is set to offer viewers a glimpse into the real woman beyond the media portrayal and the 'Wagatha Christie' image that emerged from her high-profile libel lawsuit against fellow WAG Rebekah Vardy. Coleen, 38, who is the eldest of four siblings, endured profound grief in 2013 when her younger sister Rosie passed away at 14 following a lifelong struggle with Rett syndrome, a rare brain disorder that causes severe disabilities. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter.
Rosie was adopted by Coleen's parents when she was two years old. In her Disney+ documentary, Coleen reflected: "Rosie, she struggled. She couldn't walk and she couldn't talk. She would be in pain and sick but she would still put a smile on her face." She added: "Rett syndrome is a genetic disorder, sometimes she used to force a laugh out, I think to make me, mum and dad happy. Gradually her brain wasn't functioning and she couldn't eat anymore, she couldn't crawl anymore."
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In the documentary Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, Coleen's mum Colette revealed that her daughter tended to "keep things to herself" and didn't want to be a burden. She linked this trait back to Rosie, Coleen's adopted sister, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Colette shared: "She was so special. We got involved with the home-from-home charity, so we started taking children in to give the parents a break. We had loads of kids."
Coleen added: "Rosie then came and that was different. When Rosie came along she was a massive part of our life. She was a sister that I never thought I was going to have. I used to do her hair and love picking clothes with me and mum for her. She brought that little bit extra to the house. We fell in love with her."
Colette later detailed how Rosie's health deteriorated, leading to several stays in intensive care. However, they arranged for her to spend her final days at their Liverpool home, where they had "one last sleepover" and a party to celebrate her life. She then said: "To lose a child is the worst thing that could ever happen to anyone. But when you look back now, she gave us so many good years of happiness and love.
"It's been 10 years now and Coleen has never spoken about it much. In America [when Coleen was there with husband Wayne in 2018] she had a lot of time so she must have done a lot of thinking there. But she hides a lot, so it would be hard to say what is going on in her mind."
Coleen later confided: "Because of the things that have happened to my life, I try and be strong for others. I don't want people worrying about me when they've got their own worries in life. But sometimes I can crack."
Each anniversary, Coleen turns to her social media platforms to share tender memories of Rosie, as seen this January when she posted an endearing photograph featuring Rosie cuddled by Kai, her eldest son, then a toddler. She added the heartfelt words: "11 years without you. We love and miss you always Rosie Mc."
