Peter Andre shares emotional moment he says farewell to his mother who's battling Parkinson's and Alzheimer's in Australia as he prepares to fly back to the UK

Daily Mail​

14-05-2025

Peter Andre posted an emotional moment he said farewell to his mother, Thea, in Australia on Wednesday as he prepared to fly back to the UK.
The Mysterious Girl star, 52, has been open about the health struggles his mum, 89, who lives Down Under, has faced in the last few years after being diagnosed with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
And now he's shared a video on Instagram as he visited her care home before his flight back to see his 'babies' back in the UK.
In the clip, Peter can be seen with his mother caressing his face with her hands as she attempts to communicate with him.
Alongside the post, he penned: 'Spending time with mum is always the most important part of my trip. Not exactly sure what mum is saying here but words are not always needed. I will be back very soon.
'I Love her so much, I pray she knows that. I also love Australia. But back to my babies now.'
And now he's shared a video on Instagram as he visited her care home before his flight back to see his 'babies' back in the UK
Peter jetted to Australia to promote his new movie Jafaican.
The singer stars as Gary Buckle in the crime-comedy, a con artist pretending to be a Jamaican gangster.
Gary, also known as Gazza, must master Jamaican culture in 21 days in order to execute a fraud in London and Jamaica and earn the £35,000 he needs to pay for his grandmother's care.
With the film set to release later this year, its trailer showed Peter wearing dreadlocks and putting on a Jamaican accent - something which fans have called 'profoundly disrespectful '.
The trailer made fans question: 'Did I wake up in 1998?!'
Meanwhile, it comes after Peter opened up about his 'anxious' feelings when visiting his mother in Australia.
The star travelled there for work commitments and took the opportunity to spend time with his ailing mother.
But despite the joy of seeing his parents, the star admitted that leaving his family in the UK causes him anxiety.
Peter shares two teenagers, Junior and Princess, with his ex-wife and former glamour model Katie Price.
He also has three younger children, Amelia, Theo, and Arabella, with his current wife, Emily MacDonagh.
In his column for OK! magazine, Peter shared: 'It's always so hard leaving the children when I travel. I get quite anxious before I leave.
'But I also feel anxious because I'm going to see my mum for a very limited amount of time in Australia. I've seen Mum and Dad everyday in between work, so it's bittersweet.'
He concluded: 'I'm so happy to see them, but also happy that I'll get to go back and be with the children.'
In January, Peter gave an update on his mental health struggles he has experienced after having a 'tough' year.
The pop star explained that his struggles have largely resulted from his mother's health woes.
While the singer touched on the amazing parts of the year, such as welcoming his youngest daughter, Arabella, he confessed that he has 'found parts of the year quite hard.'
He told The Mirror: 'Although I've had a lot of highs in 2024, I did experience feelings of anxiety that I haven't had for a long time, especially to do with my mum's health.
'I think that's why I spoke a lot more about mental health, because I wanted to be open and admit that things aren't always great.
'I like to think of myself as a positive person but, truthfully, I have found parts of this year quite hard.'
Peter also touched on the sensitive subject in his column for New! Magazine at the start of last year.
He said: 'I can't believe I'm nearly 51. I was worried as I approached 50, but I'm over that and I feel great.
'I'm loving life and age is just a number. You can live life to the fullest at any age.
'I will be honest, though, the only thing that makes me sad about getting older is that my parents are too.'
Peter continued: 'Although I thank God my parents are still here, I am seeing the rapid decline, especially in Mum. I find that part hard to deal with.
'Like most people, l'm so close to my parents that it is really difficult to come to terms with.'
WHAT IS PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
What is Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, according to the NHS website.
What are the symptoms?
The NHS says there are three major symptoms, including tremors or shaking, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness.
Other symptoms include problems with balance, loss of smell, nerve pain, excessive sweating and dizziness.
Some people can also experience lack of sleep, excessive production of saliva and problems swallowing, causing malnutrition and dehydration.
What are the early signs?
Symptoms can start gradually, sometimes beginning with a barely noticeable tremor in just one part of the body.
In the early stages, people may show little or no expression, and their arms may not swing when they walk.
Speech can also become soft or slurred, with the condition worsening over time.
What are the causes?
Some scientists believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors are the cause of Parkinson's disease.
It occurs after a person experiences loss of nerve cells in a part of their brain.
However, it is not known why the loss of nerve cells associated with the condition takes place but research is ongoing to identify potential causes.
Scientists say genetics factor can increase a person's risk of developing the disease, and can therefore run in families.
Other factors attributed to causing the condition include environmental problems such as pollution, though such links are inconclusive, the NHS says.
How is it diagnosed?
No tests can conclusively show if a person has the disease, but doctors can make a diagnosis based on symptoms, medical history and a physical examination.
A specialist will ask the person to write or draw, walk or speak to check for any common signs of the condition.
They may even check for difficulty making facial expressions and slowness of limb movement.
How many people are affected?
Around 145,000 people live with Parkinson's disease in the UK, according to the charity Parkinson's UK.
What happens if someone is diagnosed?
According to the charity, it is a legal requirement to contact the DVLA, as a diagnosed person will need to have a medical or driving assessment.
The organisation also advises people to contact any insurance providers and find out about financial support available.
People are also encouraged to partake in more exercise.
Can it be treated?
Although there is no cure, a number of treatments are available to help reduce the symptoms.
The main remedies include medication, exercise, therapy and surgery, which can help people in different ways.
What medication is available and what are the side effects?
Medication can be helpful in improving the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as shaking and movement problems.
There are three main types which are commonly used, levodopa, dopamine agonist or a MAO-B inhibitor. Each can affect people in different ways.
The drugs do have some side effects, including impulsive and compulsive behaviour, hallucinations, sleep issues and blood pressure changes.
What therapy is available?
There are several therapies available to those with Parkinson's through the NHS.
Among them are physiotherapy to reduce muscle stiffness, occupational therapy to help with completing day-to-day tasks and speech and language coaching.
Does this change the way you live?
Most people's life expectancy will not change a great deal, though more advanced symptoms can lead to increased disability and poor health.
It can also cause some cognitive issues and changes to mood and mental health.