Guy Deacon's New Battle
Regular readers of this newsletter will have heard a lot about Guy Deacon, a remarkable man determined not to let a Parkinson’s diagnosis in his late forties make him slow down. We tracked his progress as the now retired Army officer completed an epic drive the length of Africa in a bid to get Parkinson’s talked about and better understood. And Guy, who has written a book about his life called Running On Empty, was the subject of our first Parky Profile on the Movers and Shakers podcast.
He has been talking about the book and continuing to demystify Parkinson’s at literary festivals across Britain and I was due to interview him at an event in London in November.
But a few weeks ago came some grim news - Guy had had a serious stroke and his future was uncertain. His wife Tania asked friends to send video messages and the Movers and Shakers recorded something for him from the pub where we had talked with him for the podcast a few months earlier - Tania said he had come home “buzzing” after that.
But this week there is some better news. After a long stay in Yeovil Hospital Guy has been released and moved to a Stroke Rehab Unit. Tania says she hopes Guy’s determination, coupled with the expertise of the rehab team, will get him back on his feet soon.
Meanwhile, she says, their house is a bit like a book depository with piles of copies of Running on Empty waiting to be signed and sold at events throughout the autumn which will no longer happen. So Tania has set up an online store on Guy’s website where you can buy the book - “our kitchen now resembles a packing unit,” she says “envelopes, labels and books everywhere.”
Running On Empty is a fantastic read and a snip at £9.99 so I have no hesitation in recommending it. Guy Deacon has done great work for the Parkinson’s community, both at home and across Africa. Here’s wishing him a full recovery - and great book sales.
So sorry to hear that Guy has had to face an additional challenge . I really enjoyed the book which was literally jaw dropping at times . I would highly recommend it
What a character he must be. And how he must value the friendship of the M & S. I have no direct experience of Parkinson’s but I think you are all doing a remarkable job in raising awareness. Best wishes to Guy for continued improvement.