Serenity Rose

Special edition in support of Parkinson's UK

Almost four years ago my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Many people with Parkinson's talk about the "bombshell" of receiving a diagnosis. Of not knowing how it will progress, or what the future holds, and I must admit I knew very little about it at the time or how Dad's life would be affected. 

The first couple of years saw relatively little change. Dad had always been fiercely independent, did all his own cooking and cleaning, and would walk to the shops each day with the aid of a stick. He was determined to keep active and positive, and I think he also really enjoyed the social interaction he gained from just being out and about.

Then suddenly all that changed. In the space of just over a year there were six hospital admissions, and Dad went from being fully independent to requiring carers four times a day just to help with basic tasks. His medications began to cause considerable side effects like hallucinations, delusions and paranoia which were often more distressing than the actual conditions they were meant to alleviate.

Throughout his illness Dad has benefitted from specialist Parkinsons nurses who have proven invaluable. Sadly, due to funding, not every person with Parkinson's receives this specialist care so I would like to help raise awareness by donating 10% of all the proceeds of my "Serenity Rose" prints to Parkinson's UK.

Working with flowers is a constant reminder that all stages of life are beautiful in their own way, and roses have long been associated with love and gratitude. If you can find beauty in a situation, then you have found a way to navigate through the thorns of life.