Louis Tomlinson Loses Mother, Johannah Deakin, After ‘Relatively Short’ Battle With Leukemia, One Direction Fans Are Shocked

Louis Tomlinson, 24, from the London-based boy band One Direction, lost his mother, Johannah Deakin, on Wednesday after she battled leukemia for nearly a year. Deakin was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the blood and bone marrow cancer earlier this year that required continuous treatment, according to Us Weekly on Friday. Daniel Deakin, husband to Johannah Deakin and stepfather to Louis Tomlinson, shared in a statement on Friday that the Deakin family said “goodbye to Johannah in the early hours of Wednesday.”

“It is with immeasurable sadness that Johannah Deakin’s family said goodbye to Johannah in the early hours of Wednesday 7th December 2016.”

Johannah Deakin was a midwife and only in her early 40s when she passed away on Wednesday. Some reports originally had said that Johannah was 43, while other reports say she was only 42. The Daily Mail shared that Johannah’s death was confirmed on Friday and she leaves behind six other children besides her oldest son and One Direction star, Louis Tomlinson, who is estranged from his birth father, Troy Austin. Daniel Deakin said that Johannah was an “amazing mother” to all seven of her children, who ranged in age from 24 to two, as well as an “incredibly proud grandmother” to grandson Freddie, 10-month-old son to Briana Jungwirth and Louis Tomlinson.

“Johannah was first and foremost a truly amazing mother to seven children – Louis (24), Lottie (18), Félicité (16), and two sets of twins, Phoebe and Daisy (12) and Ernest and Doris (2) – whose individual talents and success are testament to the principles and beliefs she instilled in them.”

“She desired nothing more than for everyone around her to be happy and loving.”

Louis Tomlinson was called a “doting son” to mom, Johannah, and posted an Instagram photo just two weeks ago of himself standing with her “before the Brits earlier this year.” Tomlinson goes on to say in the photo’s caption that his mother looked gorgeous and that he loves her and misses her “so much.” Tomlinson currently lives in Los Angeles to be near his son, Freddie, as reported by the Daily Mail. Louis was also best man at Johannah’s and Daniel’s wedding back in July 2014. The Daily Mail also reported in February 2014 that Louis Tomlinson celebrated after Johannah gave birth to her second set of twins, Doris and Ernest, at a hospital near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England — Louis’ hometown.

“He met Ernest and Doris and fell in love with them. Family is massively important to him so he was made up that he was not abroad and was able to meet them so soon after they were born.”

Shocking news. Sympathy and love to @Louis_Tomlinson and all his family at this heartbreaking time. Stay strong. https://t.co/fZhpvq9q1u

— Daniel Walton (@DanielJWalton90) December 9, 2016

Reports are saying that Johannah Deakin battled leukemia for nearly a year, after being diagnosed earlier this year. However, Cosmopolitan says that Johannah had a “relatively short illness,” as she had only been hospitalized since May at the University College London Hospital. Since Johannah’s diagnosis was never publicly announced, her passing was a huge shock to fans of Louis Tomlinson and One Direction — an “English-Irish pop boy band” that formed in 2010, after the band’s original five members all performed on Simon Cowell’s British reality TV series, The X Factor. Johannah actually split from husband, Mark Tomlinson, in 2010 when Louis was “trying his chances on The X Factor.”

The Irish Mirror reported that Louis Tomlinson plans to honor his late mother with a surprise performance on The X Factor this coming Saturday evening. Louis had been planning to perform on The X Factor final this Saturday and decided to go ahead with the performance, despite his mother’s recent passing, because “it was his mother’s dying wish he accepted the long-standing engagement.” Fans worldwide took to Twitter on Friday with the hashtag #RIPJohannah to offer thoughts, prayers, and condolences to Louis Tomlinson and the Deakin family.

“No drama matters right now. Louis needs us and our prayers. Let’s all try to give him our comfort and prayer for this.”

“What makes it worse is that it came as such a shock. I didn’t even know she was sick and now my hearts broken for her family.”

Fans are raising money for this charity after Louis Tomlinson's mum has tragically passed away ? #RIPJohannah https://t.co/KuTvuUDoJL

— Capital (@CapitalOfficial) December 9, 2016

The Inquisitr previously reported that the remaining One Direction band members, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, and Louis Tomlinson, have not been together for nearly a year. Louis Tomlinson, who had previously tweeted photos of newborn son, Freddie, hasn’t actually been on Twitter at all since October, but reportedly plans to release an album in 2017 under his own record label, Triple Strings Ltd.

Billboard announced back in October 2014 — nearly five months before One Direction went on a planned hiatus — that Louis Tomlinson was working with Simon Cowell to put together a girl band. Louis Tomlinson has also reportedly indicated that he would be interested in becoming a permanent X Factor judge, after serving as a guest judge in 2015 alongside show creator, Simon Cowell, saying he’s “lucky enough to be working with Simon” on a few different projects.

[Featured Image by Chris Jackson/Getty Images]