Robbie Williams’ wife Ayda Field joined Loose Women on Tuesday to talk about her mother Gwen, and the devastating news the family had received.
She revealed that her mum had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and that they had found out the news just before they flew to London in October, to attend the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank.
Speaking to the ladies, Ayda said: ‘We found out just before the royal wedding, you know when you have an instinct like when your kid is sick.’
Since the diagnosis, Ayda is learning all she can about the symptoms, admitting that her knowledge of the disease was pretty limited: ‘I didn't know the symptoms of Parkinson's, all I knew was Michael J Fox and shaky hands.’
She was very open with the panel, explaining that she was struggling to come to terms with the news. Ayda also described her current situation as ‘confusing’, saying: ‘I have this wonderful baby and the X Factor I loved, and there were all these moments of joy and then these sharp drop offs where I would be lying in bed crying.
‘There are these weird moments of misplaced anger that I have - there was someone who was talking about Parkinson's and not needing the medication my mum has because their's isn't as aggressive, and I would then get angry that there's isn't as advanced as my mum's.’
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Ayda Field has since become an ambassador for Parkinson’s UK, determined to help others suffering from the disease, along with their family members.
Gwen joined Ayda on the panel later on, and told the women some positive news: ‘I’m really doing well. I think after I got the diagnosis and started getting treatment, I started being myself again. I’m at a point now where I’m very connected and animated. I wasn’t that person for so long.’
She added: ‘Get real about this stuff and it’s OK. It’s good to have the information and have the knowledge.’
