My PD Story

In 2025, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Like many people, I did not arrive at that diagnosis in one clean, dramatic moment. Looking back, I can see signs that were probably there earlier — changes I explained away as age, stress, old injuries or just the normal wear and tear of life.

I spent 24 years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Senior Master Sergeant, and then continued serving in federal government and consulting roles. I was used to solving problems, pushing through challenges and figuring things out. Parkinson’s, however, was not something I could simply outwork.

At first, I had more questions than answers. What did this mean? How fast would it progress? What should I be doing now? How would this affect my family, my future and the way I saw myself?

One of the first challenges was accepting that Parkinson’s is not just a diagnosis you receive and file away. It becomes part of daily life — medication schedules, exercise, therapy appointments, changing symptoms, fatigue and the uncertainty of what comes next. Some days the challenge is physical. Other days, it is mental: learning not to measure today’s life only against what I used to be able to do.

There was also a more personal reason I wanted to understand Parkinson’s better. My dad had Parkinson’s, too. He was diagnosed later in life, in his 70s, around 2005. At the time, I did not have the resources or understanding I have now. His primary doctor largely explained it away as an old man’s disease that made old men shake, and Dad rarely saw a neurologist.

Looking back, I wish I had known then what I know now. Parkinson’s is a complex neurological disease — not just a tremor, not just something that happens to older people, and not something families should have to figure out on their own.

That is one reason the Parkinson’s Foundation matters to me.

After my diagnosis, I began looking for reliable information. The internet is full of opinions, personal stories, miracle claims and self-proclaimed experts. Some lived experience is valuable — I share my own story, too — but I wanted information grounded in science, education and real expertise.

The Parkinson’s Foundation became one of the places I turned to for trusted resources. Its website, Parkinson.org, has helped me better understand symptoms, treatment options, exercise, care partner issues and the importance of building a knowledgeable care team. 

I also receive care through the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at the University of Florida, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence. Thankfully, because of advances in care and organizations like the Parkinson’s Foundation, I am in a much different place than my dad was when he was diagnosed.

My involvement with the Parkinson’s Foundation Community Network has also given me a way to turn my diagnosis into something useful. As a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador, I have had opportunities to help raise awareness, share resources, attend community events and connect with people living with Parkinson’s and those who care about them.

That work matters to me because people with Parkinson’s and their families already know this disease is real. The larger challenge is helping the broader public understand why Parkinson’s deserves more attention, more research, more support and more voices speaking up.

What keeps me happy, healthy and hopeful is a mix of things: my family, exercise, faith, humor, good medical care and the chance to keep serving in a different way. Through the Parkinson’s Foundation, I also learned about Rock Steady Boxing, an exercise program designed for people with Parkinson’s. Participating in Rock Steady Boxing has helped me stay active, challenged and connected to others who understand the importance of movement.

Parkinson’s has changed my life, but it has also given me a clearer sense of purpose. I cannot control everything about this disease, but I can control how I respond to it. I can keep learning. I can keep moving. I can keep showing up.

I have also started sharing my Parkinson’s journey through writing and advocacy. My platform is called From Where I Sit, because I believe perspective is shaped by where we are now and where we have been. From where I sit, Parkinson’s is not just a diagnosis. It is a daily lesson in adaptation, humility, purpose and continuing to move forward.

What advice would I give someone newly diagnosed?

1. Do not go through this alone. Find credible information. Build a care team you trust. Connect with others who understand the road you are on.

2. Exercise. Not someday. Now. Movement is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves.

3. Give yourself some grace. Parkinson’s changes things, but it does not erase who you are.

Parkinson’s may have changed where I sit, but it has not changed the fact that I am still here — still learning, still serving, still speaking up and still trying to make the road a little easier for the next person who hears the words, “You have Parkinson’s disease.”

Join one of our five Parkinson’s Foundation Community Networks and learn how you can volunteer.