Radio star Amanda Keller shares the  devastating news her husband Harley Oliver is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease

TV and radio presenter Amanda Keller has revealed her husband Harley Oliver has been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for years.

Keller, 61, shared the news during an episode of her podcast Double A Chattery.

The WSFM breakfast host, who has been married to Oliver since 1989, explained her husband received the diagnosis about six years ago, but the couple had only now decided to discuss the disease publicly.

‘I first noticed Harley’s footfall around the house changing, like he was dragging his leg, and his hands started to shake, and he said he’d just been whacked in the thumbs as a wicket keeper playing cricket, but I felt something was going on,’ Keller told her podcast co-host Anita McGregor, who is a forensic psychologist. 

‘I know Harley so well, and how protective he is of his inner core, he was absolutely scared and in denial, and who would blame him?’ 

Shortly after they began to notice something was amiss, Oliver received the devastating news the couple had been dreading – he had Parkinson’s disease. 

Parkinson’s is an incurable brain disorder characterised by uncontrollable movements, including shaking, stiffness, and challenges with balance and coordination.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of Parkinson’s tend to worsen over time. 

‘When he came home [from the doctor], we both just sat there completely numb,’ Keller recalled.

The WSFM host, who has been married to Oliver since 1989, explained her husband received the diagnosis about six years ago, but the couple had only now decided to discuss it publicly 

Parkinson’s is an incurable brain disorder characterised by uncontrollable movements, including shaking, stiffness, and challenges with balance and coordination. Unfortunately, the symptoms of Parkinson’s tend to worsen over time 

Keller went on to admit her knee-jerk reaction was to feel ‘cross’ with her husband and she found herself trying to correct his posture and speech.

‘All the things that it [Parkinson’s] does [to you], I thought, “Why isn’t he fighting it?” And of course I’ve come to see he can’t control this, and neither can I, and that’s been a big lesson for me. So I’ve become kinder, and sadder,’ she said.

Oliver made an appearance on the podcast later in the episode, sharing that the recent passing of his mother had played a role in making him more comfortable with the decision to go public about his Parkinson’s diagnosis.

‘She wouldn’t have dealt very well with the idea I had Parkinson’s, she knows, living in a retirement village, what that means. I wanted to keep it away from her,’ he said.

‘[When she died]  that that pressure of trying to pretend I was really well, was gone. It was better for her, not having to worry about me as much as herself.’

Despite the challenges they have faced, Keller assured her listeners the experience had actually strengthened the bonds in their close-knit family. 

At the conclusion of the podcast, Keller and her husband exchanged touching words with each other.

‘I love you, Harley,’ Keller said, to which an emotional Oliver responded, ‘I love you too. You’re terrific with all of this.’ 

Oliver made an appearance on the podcast later in the episode, sharing that the recent passing of his mother had played a role in making him more comfortable with the decision to go public about his Parkinson’s diagnosis

At the conclusion of the podcast, Keller and her husband exchanged touching words with each other. ‘I love you, Harley,’ Keller said, to which an emotional Oliver responded, ‘I love you too. You’re terrific with all of this’