Peter Andre has opened up during an exclusive shoot on the heartbreaking reason this Christmas is also bittersweet for him, as he talks about fears for his beloved mum Thea in Australia
Peter Andre is full of festive spirit as he and his wife Emily open the doors to their blended family Christmas, in an exclusive interview with OK!.
But the singer and actor admits that there is one element of the season which is bittersweet – and that is when his he thinks of his beloved mum Thea, who lives on the Gold Coast in Australia with his dad, Savvas.
Now 89, Thea suffers from both Parkinson’s and dementia and Pete, who says he hopes to fly out there after Christmas to see them both and often shares fond updates on his parents Down Under, admits sadly that he does worry about how long his mum, who has various health issues, will be around.
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He confesses, “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. 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.”
And the father-of-five confesses candidly that he often gets emotional when he thinks of everything his mum is going through. “It’s a raw pain,” he says. “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.”
Asked what his biggest Christmas wish would be this year, the star says his hope is to find “a cure for all the ills of old age, or to slow down ageing altogether.”
He adds, “It might not be in my lifetime – or my mum’s, much as I’d pray for it – but I hope it’s there in my children’s lifetime. I’m aiming to live to 115, 120. Wishful thinking, but my hope would be our kids outliving us all.”
And the performer, who was brought up as a Jehovah’s Witness, tells us that although he hasn’t technically followed the Christian religious sect since he was 16, he’s been praying again – “because of my beautiful parents and their health”.
Last month, Peter revealed that Lesley Joseph opening up about her friend Pauline Quirke’s tragic dementia battle felt ‘very close to home’, adding, “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 when I think about her and when I speak to her and see her, It’s a really cruel battle. It’s very nice when people give an update because it helps other families going through similar situations.”
But there was also great joy in September when Thea and Savvas were able to celebrate 70 years’ married. Peter said at the time, I’m so very grateful that my wonderful mum and dad have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this week. I love them so much, and I prayed for this moment for them.
“They have received a wonderful letter from the King, and although Mum’s speech is almost non-existent now, I know that her heart will be filled with warmth because of all the love and support. Happy 70th wedding anniversary, Mum and Dad inspiration to us all.”
Source: Mirror
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