Steve

My story is about

"Living Parkinson's"

When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 55, one of the hardest things to accept was the loss of control. You can’t control the diagnosis or many of the symptoms that come with it. What I eventually learned, however, is that while Parkinson’s limits some of your control, it doesn’t take away all of it. Not long after my diagnosis, I connected with the APDA. Through educational conferences, I learned about the science behind Parkinson’s and the actions people can take to better manage their journey. I began focusing on what was still within my control—educating myself, exercising, connecting with others and taking a more active role in my care. I also joined a Young Onset Parkinson’s (YOPD) support group through APDA. Meeting others facing similar challenges gave me practical ideas, encouragement and confidence that it was possible to live well with Parkinson’s. As my involvement grew, I participated in advocacy efforts, including traveling to Washington, D.C. for the Parkinson’s Policy Forum. Sharing my story and helping advance awareness and research gave me a renewed sense of purpose. APDA helped me shift from simply reacting to Parkinson’s to actively engaging with it. I began collecting the ideas and strategies I was learning and organizing them in a way that made sense to me. Over time, that effort led me to create LivingParkinsons.com and write Living Parkinson’s, bringing together practical approaches and experiences that may help others on their own journeys.