Peter Andre has opened up about the emotional toll of watching his mother Thea, 89, battle Parkinson’s and dementia, admitting he fears this could be her last Christmas. In an exclusive interview with OK! magazine, the singer and father of five shared his heartbreak over his mum’s declining health, as she lives on the Gold Coast in Australia with his father Savvas, 92.
“Of course I worry this could be Mum’s last Christmas. She’s very delicate. Her Parkinson’s has progressed quite a bit. Her speech is almost gone,” Andre said. “It’s heartbreaking, because she’s our world, our pillar of strength.” He also expressed concern for his father, whose memory is fading, but noted his gratitude that his parents celebrated 70 years of marriage in September.
Describing the pain as “raw,” Andre admitted he still struggles to accept his mother’s condition. “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.” He credited his wife Emily as his “rock” during these challenging times.
Andre’s biggest Christmas wish is for a cure for age-related illnesses, or at least to slow ageing. He hopes such advances will benefit his children, even if not in his or his mother’s lifetime. The former Jehovah’s Witness revealed he has turned to prayer again for his parents’ health.
Last month, Andre said that actress Lesley Joseph’s comments about Pauline Quirke’s dementia battle felt “very close to home.” He added, “No matter how old we are, we’re never too old not to hurt when our parents are going through what they’re going through. It kills me for my mum every day.”
