FORMER Bolton Wanderers ace Gary Parkinson — who has locked-in syndrome — will be spending Easter at home with his family.

The 44-year-old suffered a massive stroke in September, 2010, when he was at home with his family.

He is paralysed but is able to com- municate with his family by blink- ing.

Mr Parkinson is receiving around- the-clock care at The Priory High- bank Centre in Bury but will be able to go home for the day tomorrow His wife of almost 21 years, Debo- rah, also aged 44, said: “He is happy to be coming home. We have family coming and we will probably stay at home and watch the kids opening their Easter eggs.The couple have three children, Luke, aged 19, Chloe, aged 15, and Sophie, aged eight.

Mrs Parkinson said: “We are hop- ing by Christmas he will be back liv- ing in his own home again. We have been living in the house for 19 years and we would like to keep it as the family home. It’s important it still feels like the family home for the kids too and for it not to be too clin- ical.

“It is all possible through fundraising. The work is expensive. We are so grateful.”

To fund the transformations to the home, a evening in aid of The Gary Parkinson Trust is taking place at The Reebok Stadium on Saturday, April 21.

Phil Brown, former Wanderers player and coach will be the guest speaker.

Tickets are £30 and will include a meal, auction and entertainment. Call 07970 415607 for tickets.

“He loves it when their friends come round and even hearing the kids bickering about emptying the dishwasher. He is just glad to be there.”

Major renovations are in the pipeline to transform the home so he can move back in.

Money raised by friends, families and fans will be spent on a double storey extension, a wet room, large bedroom for his medical equip- ment, a ceiling hoist and a lift through the floor.

Mr Parkinson was working as a youth coach at Blackpool FC when he became ill.