A GREENOCK woman has spoken about the impact Parkinson's has had on her husband and their family in a bid to raise awareness of the disease.

There is currently no cure for the progressive neurological disease, which affects everyone differently.

Common symptoms include shaking, slowness of movement and difficulty walking and these were some of the changes that Heather Davis, 69, noticed in her husband Ian, 71, around four years ago.

Heather, a retired nurse, and her daughter Karen, who is also a nurse, noticed small changes in Ian such as having to hold onto something if standing for a short time.

They also spotted how his stride shortened and steps became shuffled.

Heather added: "We were watching a comedy on television and though Ian appeared to be enjoying it his face was mask-like and that for me was a lightbulb moment.

"I had been a nurse for 45 years and although I hadn’t a lot of experience with Parkinson’s patients I was aware of the Parkinson’s mask."

Heather made a GP appointment for Ian followed by a consultant appointment and intensive brain testing.

Almost three years ago, in June 2015, they were given the diagnosis that Ian had Parkinson's.

Within a year Ian was also diagnosed with dementia.

Heather said: "Ian was shocked to be told he had Parkinson's as he didn’t think anything was wrong, but I remember feeling really overwhelmed.

"I was screaming inside but was trying to keep a calm exterior and stay strong for Ian."

Ian and Heather are the proud parents of Karen, 45 and John, 42, and grandparents to John's children, Lauren and Sophie, and Karen's son Ethan and daughter Freya.

Heather said her family was immediately at the forefront of her mind when Ian was diagnosed.

She said: "I felt really sad, not for me, but for all the things that Ian and our beloved children and grandchildren were going to miss out on.

"I knew there would come a time when their much loved papa wouldn’t be able to play football, push them on swings, or take part in many of their activities.

"I then felt really angry that my husband, who had worked all his life and had been a fantastic husband, father and papa, had this devastating disease."

Although Heather researched the disease and treatments available she admits she was not prepared for the speed at which it would progress.

She says she has had great support from the Larkfield Unit, Your Voice and the carers group.

Despite this she has struggled to come to terms with being a carer.

She said: "I struggled with this concept of 'carer', I was Ian’s wife not his carer.

"However, I registered and took away the forms and it's taken me almost three years to realise that yes, I am a carer.

"Looking back, I think I was afraid of losing my identity of being a wife, mum and gran but now realise this is just another word to describe the care, love and support I give to Ian on a daily basis."

Ian also developed a condition called kyphosis which has led to his spine collapsing and losing ten inches in height.

It causes daily pain and Ian now uses a wheelchair.

Each day Heather makes sure that he gets all his medication, helps him shower and dress, gets him up and sits him down and makes sure he eats and rests regularly.

Despite the daily struggles the couple still go out for lunches and dinners and make visits to family.

Heather says the best advice she can give to families who have received a Parkinson's diagnosis is to give the person time to come to terms with it, to write down and ask any questions and take all the help and advice offered and speak to family and friends.

Heather said: "We need to teach our children from they are small to be aware of the people around them who may need a bit of space and time.

"We need to raise awareness and funds to try and find a cure for this debilitating disease.

"I know it won’t help Ian but, hopefully, it will prevent people in the future from developing this life-changing disease."