Warwick Davis and his wife Samantha have encountered difficulties ever since they first became friends as teenagers working on the set of Willow, including the tragic deaths of their two daughters and a sepsis scare that may have been life-threatening.
However, the actor of Tenable and his wife of 31 years—whom he refers to as his “soulmate”—have never had a stronger relationship than they do right now.
Sam Davis and Warwick have never been more in love.
This past weekend, he explained how he had been torn up as he imagined life without Sam, 51, with whom he shares children Annabelle, 25, and Harrison, 19, as she battled to recover from sepsis in 2018.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, the 52-year-old recalled having to wait for Sam to return from a potentially fatal blood poisoning after Sam had fallen and needed life-saving surgery.
“The next few hours were the longest of my life,” Sam remarked as he sat with our children on the ward in the empty space left by his hospital bed. ”.
I hoped it didn’t mean we’d be without her in the future”.
The loving couple both have various forms of dwarfism, which has left them with ongoing health problems.
But they have found that the difficulties they have overcome together have served as the cornerstone of their enduring friendship.
Sam highlighted their unique connection by describing her husband as “beautiful inside and out” in a heartfelt birthday card she sent to him in February”.
You are the bravest, kindest, and most compassionate person I know, he wrote.
“Your tenacity and bravery never cease to astound us all. You have my undying gratitude. I am yours forever”.
Warwick tweeted a celebration for his “beautiful wife’s” 51st birthday in January.
He went on to say, “I so admire how she meets the challenges of life with dignity, vigour, and courage; she is an inspiration.”. ”.
When Warwick was only 17 years old and offered the lead role in Willow opposite Val Kilmer, he had already made an appearance as Ewok Wicket in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
While working together as extras in the movie as Samantha Burroughs, 16, co-star Peter Burroughs’ daughter, the two became romantically involved. They dated for four years prior to their marriage in 1991.
Annabelle, Harrison, and Warwick all have a birth defect called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SED), which causes genetic dwarfism.
Sam’s achondroplasia and the most typical form of dwarfism coexisted, and Warwick has described how this resulted in the deaths of two of their infants in an extremely moving manner.
Prior to Annabelle, a child named Lloyd was born, but he died nine days later. Before welcoming Harrison and Annabelle, they lost George at 19 weeks along with two additional pregnancies.
In a 2019 TV special, he said, “We had a baby boy, Lloyd, before Annabelle and Harrison, who inherited both our conditions… and that proves fatal”.
It will be too much for a baby to handle. However, Lloyd, who was incredibly attractive, lived for nine days.
It was a difficult period. We did indeed also have a stillbirth”.
While the tragedy may have brought an end to some marriages, Warwick insisted that it actually brought him and his wife closer. He went on to say that experiences of that nature only make you stronger”.
Warwick frequently speaks in public about their health struggles. He and Sam founded Little People UK.
“When you first meet someone with dwarfism, you usually only notice their short stature. But that’s just the beginning,” he said in 2015, according to the Guardian.
It gets worse. The results might be a cleft palate, hearing loss, or the requirement for a wheelchair”.
His parents were informed that he had SED from birth, wouldn’t be able to walk, and would pass away in his teens. He endured numerous agonizing foot and leg operations throughout his youth.
According to him, it gets worse as you age. The dislocation of my hips. That was extremely painful. ”.
There is still a chance of retinal separation even though I can now recognize the symptoms. You awaken after the alarm goes off and we’ve had a chance to start moving for thirty minutes. It’s like waking up every day with the worst illness you’ve ever had”.
Sam had undergone numerous surgeries over the course of her life before passing away from sepsis in 2018 following a routine back operation.
After she was taken to the hospital and the family learned that she might not recover from the virus, Warwick urged the kids to say their final goodbyes. The infection causes the immune system to go into overdrive and attack tissues and organs.
According to him, in an interview with The Sun, “I broke down every night thinking that this terrible illness that came out of nowhere might take my soulmate away from me.”. ”.
Harrison’s son underwent surgery a number of times, most recently in 2019.
Sam wrote: “Harrison was brave as usual when he underwent surgery on his knees and feet, and we are so proud of him. ” is written next to a picture of her son receiving care at Peterborough Hospital while wearing an anesthetic mask.
In January, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves gave Harrison his first panto role, and Annabelle made an appearance in the Tracy Beaker sequel The Dumping Ground. Both of the kids continued their parents’ acting careers.
The inspiring couple has changed the public’s perception of dwarfism through their stories and charitable endeavors, and they have made the world a better place for their kids.
They have grown stronger than they were before thanks to their unwavering love, which has sustained them through sadness and heartache.
