Peter Andre has opened up about his mother's struggle with her declining health while she lives thousands of miles away in Australia. The Mysterious Girl singer is preparing to visit his elderly parents as his dad celebrates his 93rd birthday. However, he admits it is tough seeing his mum Thea how she is now after she was diagnosed with both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Instagram tribute to parents
Taking to Instagram, he wrote: "This video touches my heart in every way. It’s my dad’s 93rd birthday today. I decided not to show mum in this video because it hurts too much. But I want to thank my sis for sending this. Love you mum and dad so so so much. More than they will ever know. I do speak to them every single day, sometimes twice. I tell them enough how much they mean to me ( if it’s ever enough ) Thank god for FaceTime. Going to see them and I cannot wait."
Mother's declining health
Peter had previously shared how it's tough to see his mum's health declining, admitting her speech is "almost gone". He said: "She’s very delicate. Her Parkinson’s has progressed quite a bit. Her speech is almost gone. She’ll say a word or two. It’s heartbreaking, because she’s our world, our pillar of strength."
"Then I see Dad and he’s 92 and with her every single day. But he’s getting delicate now, too. His memory’s going, but I am so grateful that they made that milestone I prayed for - 70 years of marriage in September. It’s a raw pain. I’m a grown man, but I still can’t accept in my heart that these things happen to the people I love the most."
Guilt and worry
The singer admitted he felt "guilt and worry" over his beloved mum’s health decline. "I read about Fiona Phillips’ experience of Alzheimer’s and the strain it has taken on not just her but her family," he shared. "It’s absolutely heartbreaking. With a disease like Alzheimer’s it’s so hard, number one, for the person affected, but it’s also heartbreaking for those who love and care for them."
Fear of last Christmas
Last year, Peter admitted he was worried it could be his mum's last Christmas, saying he "still can’t accept in my heart that these things happen to the people I love the most". "I would sit with her all day and there would be maybe six hours where she wouldn’t even say a word because the talking has almost stopped," he said. "It has not 100 per cent stopped and that’s my mum that three or four years ago was holding [my daughter] Millie and laughing, cleaning, cooking [and had] high energy - It’s cruel."
