Sandra Bullock's family has applauded the actress for the way she cared for her longtime partner Bryan Randall during his health battle.
On Monday (August 7), it was reported that the Oscar-winning actress' partner, Bryan Randall, sadly passed away three years after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is also known as motor neuron disease.
The 57-year-old photographer's family confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement shared with PEOPLE, which read: "It is with great sadness that we share that on Aug. 5, Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with ALS."
They explained that Randall chose to maintain privacy regarding his battle with the illness, noting: "Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private, and those of us who cared for him did our best to honor his request."
The bereaved family expressed their gratitude to healthcare professionals that tended to their loved one, stating: "We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours."
The statement concluded with a plea for privacy at this tough time, signed, "His Loving Family."
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The condition causes loss of muscle control and gets worse over time, per Mayo Clinic.
The medical report stated that the fatal disease - which has no cure - often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, trouble swallowing, or slurred speech. It then eventually leads to a lack of control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat, and breathe.
While the 59-year-old Hollywood star has never spoken publicly about her partner's health condition, her sister, Gesine Bullock-Prado, took to Instagram to commend the actress for the way she nursed her significant other in secret.
"I’m convinced that Bry has found the best fishing spot in heaven and is already casting his lure into rushing rivers teaming with salmon," she began.
"ALS is a cruel disease but there is some comfort in knowing he had the best of caretakers in my amazing sister and the band of nurses she assembled who helped her look after him in their home," Bullock-Prado penned.
The doting sister concluded the post by writing: "Rest in peace, Bryan," and asked followers to donate to ALS Association and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Randall first met Bullock in 2015 after he photographed her adopted son, Louis, now 13. They took their relationship public later that year, including an appearance at Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux's wedding.
The couple never married but in 2021, Bullock said on the Red Table Talk that he is "the love of my life," and revealed that they co-parent with their children; Louis, Laila, and Randall's child, Skylar Staten.
"I don't wanna say do it like I do it, but I don't need a paper to be a devoted partner and devoted mother," she said, adding, "I don't need to be told to be ever present in the hardest of times. I don't need to be told to weather a storm with a good man."
Elsewhere in the episode, the Bird Box actress hailed her partner for being a great "example" to her children, adding: "He's the example that I would want my children to have."
Bullock is yet to speak publicly about his death.
Our thoughts are with Randall's family and friends at this time.
