Caring for my wife has left me suicidal
But Nora means everything to Sex Pistols star
FORMER Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon says he has been left “quite suicidal” caring for his wife.
Nora Forster – who he affectionately calls Babbie – suffers from Alzheimer’s.
And Lydon admitted there are moments that are “overwhelmingly sad” and “full of rage”,
But the former punk star, 65, said he won’t let himself wallow for too long because he knows he needs to be there for her. Lydon said: “Things are what they are, and you have to take that and accept it and, sadly I’ve got to say, almost enjoy it for the experience.
“You don’t have those moments [of despair] for very long. But there can be accidents and you’ve just got to deal with it and get on with it.
“Just take it as it is and keep yourself intact mentally and be proud of what you’re doing.
“Life must continue to the absolute; you must fight for life to the bitter end.”
Lydon, who has suffered vision problems since a childhood battle with meningitis, won’t leave 78-yearold Nora’s side to visit the optician, even though his eyesight is deteriorating.
He told the Sunday Times: “What I have is floaters. Sometimes it is black dots that float around inside my eye; the others look like hair strands so I’m constantly thinking my hair is in my eye but it’s not.
“There’s no way I can take a day out and leave Babbie alone just on some selfish problem.”
The Anarchy In The UK hitmaker knows things can only get worse for Nora but he’s determined to do the best he can.
He said: “I know it’s going to deteriorate into something really, really terrible, but we’re facing it with a sense of dignity. It would be easy enough to run away and say, ‘Oh, it’s not my responsibility; things aren’t the same’.
“When I make a commitment it’s forever and I stand by that and I’m very proud to do the best I can for her.
“We’ve been together now 45 years. We’re not going to change anything.
“You know, what’s an illness between true friends, man and wife, lovers, whatever you want to call it?
“We are a proper pair of people who love and adore each other.”