My PD Story

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) on April 27, 2023, at the age of 48 — a day I will remember for the rest of my life.

For nine months leading up to that day, I went through countless doctor appointments and tests, all of which showed that nothing was wrong. But I knew my body, and I knew something wasn’t right. The final step was seeing a neurologist, who diagnosed me within five minutes.

The words still echo in my mind: “I know what you have, and you aren’t going to like it.” Then came the sentence that changed everything: “You have Parkinson’s.”

In that moment, time seemed to stop. I cried because of the weight of what those words meant. I had been preparing myself for a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, not Parkinson’s. Both are serious, but for some reason, Parkinson’s hits harder. When the neurologist told me to “get my affairs in order” and make sure I had a support system, it was sobering. Yet, those words also forced me to focus on what truly matters and to rethink my future.

After some time to process and grieve, I began connecting many of my past symptoms, things I had brushed off as unrelated, to Parkinson’s. Gradually, I started to accept my new reality. I thought about how this diagnosis would affect my work, my relationships and my day-to-day life.

At first, I didn’t want to tell anyone. But as I reflected on the importance of support, I changed my mind. I decided to use my voice and advocacy skills to help others while learning along the way. Sharing my story has opened doors for conversations, questions and connections with others living with Parkinson’s or supporting loved ones who are.

I made a vow to move forward, to volunteer, stay active and do whatever I could to slow the progression of the disease. Taking control started with education. I dove into researching Parkinson’s and quickly discovered that while there are many resources available, not all are reliable. I wanted to focus on young-onset Parkinson’s information, but it was easy to feel overwhelmed by the volume and variety of sources.

Fortunately, I found my way into a supportive community. I joined Rock Steady Boxing, became part of the Parkinson’s Foundation Southwest Chapter Board, and serve as a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador. I also volunteer at local events and connect with others impacted by Parkinson’s whenever I can.

I’ve decided to face this diagnosis head-on and to do it with humor. My goal is to help others who are newly diagnosed, especially those with young-onset Parkinson’s, find the tools and confidence to move forward in a positive direction.

I’ll leave you with this thought: Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 29 and is now 64. So much has changed since his diagnosis in research, treatment and awareness. A lot can change in 10  years. Staying positive truly makes a difference.

Volunteers help us make life better for people with Parkinson’s. Explore ways to volunteer with the Parkinson’s Foundation today.