InstagramKim Richards is mourning the loss of her ex-husband Monty Brinson, who passed away at age 58 following a battle with cancer.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star is "crushed," a source tells E! News, adding that Kim and Monty "were still very close, right up until the end."
"Monty had actually been in hospice the past few weeks. It's sad, but he had been at Stage 4 for a very long time. In a way, he beat the odds [surviving as long as he did]," a source tells E! News. But while his death might not have been a complete shock, that doesn't make dealing with the loss easier for those who loved him. Kim, in particular, is struggling with grief.
"Everyone's worried about Kim in the same way they're always kind of worried about her," says a source. "No one wants to see Kim's health take a step backwards because of grief."
Kim, 51, struggled publicly with her sobriety over the past year. She had run-ins with the law in April and again in August and was sentenced to 36 months of probation, 300 hours of community service and 52 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings (a minimum of one per week).
The RHOBH star has kept a low profile and spent the past several months focusing on her health. Kyle Richards told E! News in October that her sister Kim was doing much better, adding that she was "doing what she needed to do to take care of herself."
Kyle clearly wants the best for her sister and will be there to support her through this particularly difficult time. Kim's sister, though, is also grieving over the loss of Monty. Kyle Instagrammed a heartfelt tribute to him on Monday afternoon.
Those closest to Monty were able to spend time with him in his final days. "In the past week, everyone had a chance to say their goodbyes," a source tells E! News. "He passed on yesterday [Sunday]. Kim was there as were Kathy and Rick Hilton and other family members and friends. He was surrounded by loved ones."