Unbeknowst to his doctor early on, walter had a brain aneurysm. This started out small, but the clotting of blood escallated to where he had headaches that would last weeks at a time. By the time he doctor diagnosed his condition, the clot was too large to operate on. Walter was given 6 months to live. But that didn't stop him from continuing his work.
One day after classes, his headache was incapacitating him. At times the sniffing of the herb rosemary would help, as it promotes blood circulation to the brain. He grabbed a sprig from his greenhouse and took a gigantic whif; then he collapsed. His aneurysm .had ruptured and he fell into a coma. But it should have killed him.
The rosemary apparently triggered his evolution, and the blood from the clot began to circulate throughout his brain. This awakened areas of his brain that are not normally used. When he awoke from his coma 3 days later, he realized he could read, pull, and control the thoughts of others.
But instead of using his powers for personal gain, he used them for what matters most...his family. It was his children who evidently talked him into joining The Alliance...as well as coming up with his name. His oldest daughter felt that if there was a Greek god of parenthood...his name would be Paterneous.
