pete 2,499 Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 (edited) The one-time Ibrox star has been struck by tragedy but promises to always look after his sweetheart. Former Rangers favourite Thomas Buffel has revealed his torment over his wife's battle with cancer. The Belgian midfielder, who ended a three-year Ibrox spell in 2008, married his longtime partner Stephanie De Buysser in June. But Buffel has now told how Stephanie, mum to the couple's three-year-old twin sons, had a tumour removed earlier this year. The blonde beauty, 39, will need continuous treatment for bowel cancer. Buffel currently captains Belgian top-flight club Genk. He helped Rangers win the 2005 SPL title and Scottish League Cup. Thomas Buffel and his wife Stefanie De Buyser The 35-year-old said: "Stephanie will have one good day, then the next one won't go so well. We know for certain that she will require treatment for the rest of her life. "Shortly before our wedding she underwent yet another operation, where the doctors removed part of her tumour. "Her illness has stabilised, but she will remain under medical observation. "She is soon due to start on a new form of therapy. We keep hoping that medical science will find something to cure her illness for good. "We genuinely believe that things will turn out for the best one day. "It took a long time for Stephanie to become pregnant, and after she had our children - Fausto and Maceo - she became ill. "When I asked her to marry me she felt much better, and strong enough for our wedding day. "I promised Stephanie's father before he died that I would always look after her. I have now repeated that promise for the whole world to hear." Rangers paid Dutch club Feyenoord £2.3million for Buffel in January 2005. He went on to make 83 Light Blues appearances, scoring 16 goals, before returning home to rejoin former club Cercle Bruges eight years ago. Buffel celebrates after scoring against Anorthosis Famagusta during the Champions League third qualifying round second leg clash in 2005 Buffel recently revealed he has begun marketing his own brand of gin after the tipple created to celebrate his wedding won rave reviews. The player has also just appeared on Belgian TV quiz De Slimste Mens Ter Wereld (The Cleverest Person in the World) after a chance meeting with show host Erik van Looy. Buffel told Flemish magazine Dag Allemaal: "I was surprised when Erik invited me to take part. I met him at the Tomorrowland music festival. "I'd had one or two drinks too many, and so I took the bait." All the strength you need Thomas and Stephanie. Hopefully you get your medical wonder. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-rangers-star-thomas-buffel-9443428 Edited December 13, 2016 by pete 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Dynamo 128 Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 Thoughts go out to him. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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