My story

Now I've learned how to live with Parkinson’s

The only way is up ... Gavin Hastings, left, is joining climb with our Jen, right, to help wife Diane, centre
The only way is up ... Gavin Hastings is joining the climb with our Jen right, to help wife Diane

The mum of two was diagnosed with Parkinson's aged just 39. She tells YVONNE BOLOURI how her life has changed since her diagnosis.

 

To an onlooker, Diane Hastings has a charmed life.

But eight years ago Diane was diagnosed with the degenerative brain disorder Parkinson's disease.

She was only 39 years old and the news came as a devastating blow to the family.

Disbelief, anger, tears and depression rocked her to the core.

But resilient Diane did what she knows best — she got on with life.

Now 47, she controls her symptoms with medication and is firmly in control.

Diane was referred for tests and scans at Edinburgh's Western General Hospital. Parkinson's was diagnosed straight away.

She said: "I was gobsmacked. I thought Parkinson's only happened to old people. I was 39.

"At the time Gavin was in Australia at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. I had to phone him with the news. It was not a good time.

But she said: "I didn't know much about Parkinson's so I looked on websites and to be honest, they go into too much detail and aren't very positive.

"So I stopped that. Of course I cried and I had my black moments.

"It took a few weeks to sink in but by the time Gavin was due home, I had my head round it.

" I realised this was the card I'd been dealt, and there was nothing I could do about it."

"Medication made me feel completely well. The stiffness improved, my energy levels went up and I realised that living with Parkinson's isn't a death sentence."

"When you have something like Parkinson's private healthcare won't cover you but my NHS treatment has been superb.

"My doctor and consultant are just an email away if I need help, and the neurologist is the same one I had when I was in private healthcare."

"I look after myself, watch what I eat and we've now got two dogs so I exercise them for an hour every morning. I'd never have done that before, but now, when I miss a morning, I really miss the benefits.

She said: "I'm extremely proud of Gavin and the kids. Gavin is going to be 50 in January so we're planning something special.

"He's climbing Kilimanjaro to raise funds for the Funding Neuro charity. We met the founder Bryn Williams, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's when he was 36, through a mutual friend, so Gavin does a lot of fundraising for Wobbly Williams.

"When Gavin's away, we usually Skype but I don't think he'll be able to do that on the top of a mountain!"

Diane understands the devastation of a Parkinson's diagnosis but insists there is hope.

She advised: "Accept it, take the medication and enjoy your life.

"Of course, I'd rather not have it, but things could be a whole lot worse."

My gallery 9

My Teams

My company

My charity

Funding Neuro

Funding Neuro

Charity Registration No. SC042061

Funding Neuro funds research that will lead to treaments and cures for neurological conditions. We do this by bringing researchers in all fields and patients of all disorders together to share ideas and to deliver results.

Donations 342

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Fantastic effort, great cause and a really tremendous amount already raised - congratulations!

Donation by Mark, Anna, Cameron and Sarah Maclean on 18/01/12

£100.00

+ £25.00 Gift Aid

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Happy 50th Birthday and good luck with the climb - a great thing to do for a well deserving cause. Richard, Alison, Emily James and Matthew Bedford

Donation by Richard Bedford on 18/01/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Great effort in deserving cause-aye Peter

Donation by Peter Lyell on 18/01/12

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19340 feet conquered for a brilliant cause. well done Gav and to all your intrepid team. Gilo

Donation by Giles Morgan on 17/01/12

£193.40

+ £48.35 Gift Aid

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Best wishes to all the family and good luck to Gavin. He'll need it. (Just kidding).

Donation by Andrew and Kathleen Bacon on 17/01/12

£100.00

+ £25.00 Gift Aid

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Well Done Butt!

Donation by mike roberts on 17/01/12

£100.00

+ £25.00 Gift Aid

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All the very best to you all with the climb and the fundraising

Donation by John White on 17/01/12

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

Donation by Matthew Edgar on 17/01/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Congratulation to you and the team!what a great acheivement & start to your 50's! Best wishes Helen & Billy McNeill x x

Donation by Helen Mcneill on 17/01/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Donation by roy mack on 17/01/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Donation by Anonymous on 17/01/12

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

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Well done Gavin, a tough climb for all the family but you are a great example. Keep at it.

Donation by Hamish Steedman on 17/01/12

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What a wonderful mission, and one where I have no doubt you will set a new record for the fastest ever ascent! Very best to you and Diane

Donation by Douglas Hutchison on 17/01/12

£100.00

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Great cause, great project! All the very best, and enjoy it, too!

Donation by a Scottish girl far from home ... on 17/01/12

£50.00

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Hope you make it on Cassius' b'day tomorrow! Come down safely! Andrew Randall, Cumbria

Donation by ANDREW RANDALL on 16/01/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Best of Luck Gav. Great cause - hope it all goes well. Jill and Shep

Donation by Martin Shepherdson on 16/01/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Good Luck Gav, am sure you will do well.All the very best to both of you. Jim & Lynn Calder.

Donation by Jim Calder on 16/01/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Best of luck Gavin! Hope it all goes smoothly. Great cause and an amazing challenge. Love from us all, Rob, Sarah, Angus and Hannah Moffat

Donation by Sarah Moffat on 16/01/12

£30.00

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Good luck Gavin, burn off that black pudding...

Donation by Andrew MacInnes on 16/01/12

£50.00

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Good luck

Donation by John Sprot on 16/01/12

£50.00

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Good luck Gavin, this is for my big sister.

Donation by Kirsty Holmes on 16/01/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Good luck Gav

Donation by eddie mccabe on 16/01/12

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous on 16/01/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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with every best wish for your success, Lorn and Camilla Cowie

Donation by Camilla Cowie on 16/01/12

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All the very best big man to you and your dear wife. XX

Donation by Georgina Dudgeon on 16/01/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations£35,198.00
  • Offline donations£9,165.00
  • Text donations£0.00
  • Total raised£44,363.00
  • Gift Aid£6,029.50

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.