What it's like to... Live with Parkinson's

"Walter that's a great painting – I love it!" he exclaimed, 250 miles above the earth. The 71-year-old artist was over the moon to hear it, because things haven't been very easy for Walter over the last few years. He's only been painting since last August, and does so despite living with Parkinson's Disease.

"I discovered last year in August, 2015, that I have a talent for painting," Walter says. "I have never had painting classes before but I've always had an extraordinary appreciation for art. I found watercolour paints together with painting books in a drawer in my house and I ventured out and started to draw and paint on ordinary typing paper. When my wife saw what I was doing, she promptly went out and bought lots of watercolour and acrylic paint and proper painting paper. There was no stopping me after that. I produced one painting after the other, progressing in quality and style."

The South African-born artist lives in Telford with his wife Marie, who he has been married to for 20 years. Between them, they have five children and seven grandchildren.

"Marie has been a pillar of strength and support to me throughout our marriage and so I have been to her," Walter tells us. With his wife's encouragement, Walter – who his family affectionately call Wally – found a creative outlet, something away from the trauma that came with learning he'd got the progressive neurological condition.

"It was in the beginning of 2009, that my right thumb started to move peculiarly and continuously. After a while my right hand started to shake and this made it difficult to hold a cup. Both my wife and I were baffled about this because at that stage we were unaware of the symptoms of Parkinson's.

"Then my walking was affected. I started to walk on the balls of my feet and was unable to put my heels down first. We became concerned, and after a few enquiries, decided that it was time to consult a doctor. I was referred to a neurologist who confirmed that I had the disease.

"Marie read up on the different tremor diseases. It was too hard to accept the diagnosis and we were unsure whether it was correct. She immediately made an appointment with a second neurologist."

An MRI scan of Walter's brain was done and the diagnosis was confirmed. The couple were both initially in denial and shocked, struggling to accept his condition. Medication was prescribed, but the side effects came as another shock.

He goes on to say: "As time passed the illness progressed and the emotional trauma got worse. Gradually over the years more and more of my abilities fell away. Things I loved to do I was not able to do anymore, like long walks and bicycle rides. In my younger days, I went to the gym and did heavy bodybuilding exercises. I'm a tall, big-built man and had a six pack and strong big muscles all over my body. I lived a healthy life and never smoked. I only had the occasional social drink."

"To accept that I had Parkinson's Disease was the most difficult thing for both me and my wife to have to live with. We have had to make so many changes in our daily lives, in order for us to accommodate the traumatic side effects of the medication. Life has changed dramatically.

"I have to endure the horrible symptoms of dyskinesia (involuntary muscle movements) and gait (weakness in the legs and swaying from side-to-side) which give the impression that I'm drunk. People with Parkinson's often have to endure embarrassing mocking and nasty comments about their unusual, uncontrollable movements," he explains.

"We are saddled with this 'dragon' on a daily basis and have to take each day as it comes. Nothing can be planned in advance anymore as I don't know how I will feel the next day. Outings I look forward to have to be cancelled sometimes, on short notice. It all now depends on what my body will allow me to do at the time. Another great love of mine is fishing. As things are now, I have to be careful of the surroundings where I fish because of being unsteady on my legs."

Walter's wife Marie adds: "Walter always had a great love of reading, and read a great many books in his life. But now, due to the involuntary head movements, he struggles to follow a sentence from left to right. He's had to put reading on the side for now."

Despite everything that Walter has, and continues to go through, painting has given him a new focus. "It astounds me and it is amazing how painting has changed my life. It showed me that there is life after PD and even though so many other wonderful physical hobbies had to fall away, my time can now be spent in such an indulging way through my painting. It fills my time in the day. I live through what I create in front of me. The satisfaction I get from how I create lovely natural scenery cannot be bought with any money," he states.

"I have to be honest and say that compared to when I was originally diagnosed, there is a continuing change happening. The situation still stays a difficult one and an emotional challenge. A big plus for me is that I am a positive person with a happy persona and I can always see the light over the horizon."

Marie is hopeful that some day there will be some treatment developed that will improve Walter's symptoms even if a cure can't be found.

Walter's art is helping him to stay positive, and he's hoping that one day he'll be able to sell his paintings to benefit Parkinson's UK. Another thing on his bucket list, though, is to come face-to-face with the astronaut that tweeted him from space.

"My greatest wish is to meet Tim Peake in person. An astronaut in real life!"

Before we say goodbye to Walter, he shares a message for those who may be dealing with a loved one suffering with Parkinson's.

"Remember that this person who has Parkinson's is as normal in their hearts and minds as you are. They deserve respect and empathy from every one out there. Also remember, it could have been you. This disastrous PD shows no discrimination."