DAYS Star Martha Madison Mourns the Death of Her Mother
Our thoughts are with DAYS OF OUR LIVES star Martha Madison (Belle) and her family, who are grieving the death of her beloved mom, Barbara Baggs. Just 69 years old, Baggs passed away earlier this week after fighting dementia for nearly 20 years. Madison took to Instagram to share the sad news of her mother’s death and paid a loving tribute to the woman who raised her and her two sisters.
“We got the call two weeks ago that the end was near,” Madison wrote. “Since then, my two sisters and I have been at my mother’s bedside as we reminisced, shared stories about our mom, and reflected on our individual and collective childhoods. We’ve laughed a lot. We’ve cried a lot. We’ve taken turns lying next to her, holding her hand, thanking her for her love and guidance, and reassuring her that she successfully completed her mission here even with the odds so often against her.”
The DAYS star further explained that for the last 18 years, her mom has endured a “grueling” battle with Frontotemporal Dementia, a brain disorder that primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. As a result of the degeneration caused by the disorder, the patient’s personality, behavior, and language are typically affected. “My mother finally let go this afternoon and joined our team of angels,” the actress continued. “The duration of her fight is a true testament to her grit, stubbornness, and strong heart. Thankfully, these qualities run deep in our family.”
According to Madison, while she and her two sisters are “so relieved” that their mom is no longer suffering, that relief is bittersweet as Baggs’ heartbroken daughters must now face life without her in it. “My mother was incredible and complex and more things than any string of adjectives could properly describe,” Madison shared. “She was a single parent, and more than anything else, she wanted her legacy to be about raising educated, honest, self-sufficient girls with a strong backbone and unwavering integrity. She did that.”
You can read Madison’s full Instagram post about her mom here, as well as her vow to fight for FTD research and a cure in her mother’s memory. Please join us in extending our condolences to Madison and her family during this difficult time.
