My PD Story

A Walk That Changed Everything

While on vacation in August 2010, my wife Mary and I had just finished a walk when my left hand began shaking. Mary insisted I go to the emergency room (ER), and after an examination, the ER physician attributed it to stress.

Yet back home, the tremor in my left hand persisted. I also began dragging my left leg when I walked, and my left arm didn’t swing when walking. I managed to secure an appointment with a neurologist about two months later. 

After several rounds of tests, he told me, “I think you have Parkinson’s.” He referred me to a Movement Disorders Specialist at the University of Maryland, who confirmed that I had Young-Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD) at age 46.

Taking Control: My Four Pillars

After the initial shock, I decided I was going to take control of my Parkinson’s journey. Drawing on my background in science and clinical research, I spent two months reviewing clinical studies on Parkinson’s and exploring the resources available on the Parkinson’s Foundation website.

From that research, I distilled four key pillars I would focus on to live my best life with Parkinson’s:

• Exercise: Daily aerobic activity, strength training, flexibility and stretching, and balance training—all grounded in Parkinson’s Foundation recommendations.
• Nutrition: A consistent, healthy eating plan to support overall well-being.
• Optimism & Mindfulness: Maintaining a positive attitude and practicing mindfulness to navigate daily challenges.
• Social Interaction: Staying connected, joining a Parkinson’s exercise group at my local community center and building new friendships.

Giving Back: Teaching, Research, and Advocacy

Living an exceptional life with Parkinson’s, I felt compelled to help others and share what I had learned. I began presenting to support groups but still felt I could contribute more. 

When I came across the Research Advocate role on the Parkinson’s Foundation website, I knew it was the right fit. I completed the training and became a Parkinson’s Foundation Research Advocate in September 2024.

In 2024, I learned that three of my former neighbors had developed Parkinson’s. For 20 years, I lived in a neighborhood just one-quarter of a mile from a golf course that had been built and opened during that time. Nearby farm fields grew corn and soybeans. Strikingly, four households within a small, concentrated radius—mine included—all had someone develop Parkinson’s.

This felt like far more than coincidence. After researching possible causes, I found that people living near a golf course are twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s as those who do not likely due to the pesticides and herbicides used to control weeds and insects 

I learned that one of those herbicides called paraquat is linked to an increased risk of developing Parkinson's. Paraquat is banned in more than 70 countries, including the European Union and China, yet it remains in use in the U.S.

This information drew me into public policy advocacy. In February 2026, I joined the Parkinson’s Foundation and other advocacy organizations at the Pennsylvania State Capitol to share our stories and urge them to support a bill to ban paraquat in the state. Most were receptive to our concerns — with one lawmaker agreeing to sign on as a co-sponsor. 

My Parkinson’s journey has taught me to fight back with exercise and social interaction, advocate for others, and a Parkinson’s diagnosis is not an ending but an opportunity to live your best life. 

Learn more about how Policy work can impact the lives of people with Parkinson’s. Visit our Advocacy Center to take action in your state now.