In February, "Zwischen Tüll und Tränen" star Uwe Herrmann (63) received the devastating news that he had been diagnosed with a rare and particularly aggressive Merkel cell carcinoma. Two multi-hour surgeries followed, during which the tumor, several lymph nodes, and additional skin had to be removed. During this difficult time, the bridal fashion expert made an unusual decision: He didn't want to see almost anyone in the hospital.
In an interview with "bunte.de", Herrmann reveals that he consciously declined visitors during his hospital stays - even his son Philipp was not allowed to come to his bedside.
"Didn't want any visitors in the hospital"
"I didn't want any visitors in the hospital. If I had had a wife at that time - she wouldn't have been allowed to visit me. Absolutely not, nobody," the 63-year-old explains. He even prohibited a visit from his son, with whom he runs the Dresden bridal boutique "Weißes Gewölbe".
The reason for this was clear to him: "Do you know what it does when you see an alpha lion like me in such a condition?" Herrmann wanted to spare his loved ones this image - and make it easier for himself to return to everyday life. Between the two surgeries, he even briefly returned to the shop and filmed new episodes of "Zwischen Tüll und Tränen".
After the first procedure, however, the TV star had to endure a setback. Doctors discovered a micrometastasis, which is why additional lymph nodes were removed during a second surgery. The good news: The doctors found no further metastases.
There was one exception
Herrmann wasn't completely alone in the hospital, though. One person was eventually allowed to visit him: his ex-wife Heike, with whom he remains closely connected to this day despite their divorce. "My ex-wife Heike, the mother of my son Philipp, was the only one who was allowed to visit me during my hospital stays," he says.
The reason for this was quite pragmatic. After the surgery, he couldn't wash properly due to the procedures. He didn't want to accept the help of the nursing staff out of pride. Instead, he improvised with a back brush - but he was missing a washcloth. "Heike lives near the hospital and brought me one. That's life sometimes. In the end, a washcloth decides," Herrmann says with a laugh.
Further treatment ahead
According to his own statements, he is now doing "very well." However, the illness is not completely over yet. As a precautionary measure, radiation treatments are now scheduled, possibly followed by immunotherapy.
"Next week I have my preliminary consultation for the radiation treatments. Then we'll see what dosage and how often they'll do it," the bridal fashion expert reports.
