Bionews Staff, writers and editors —

Chris Kustanbauter, left, is shown with his wife, Mary, and their dogs, Hazel and Duke. (Courtesy of Chris Kustanbauter) Day 16 of 30 This is Chris Kustanbauter’s story: Flashback 12 years, I’m sitting in my neurologist’s office and I hear, “Chris, you have Parkinson’s disease.” My…

Photo courtesy of Steven Oppen Day 15 of 30 This is Steven Oppen’s story: I was diagnosed in 2013, having just received the news in 2011 that my wife had pancreatic cancer. A double whammy. My love of 48 years lost her battle in 2017. I’m experiencing severely…

Photo courtesy of Corrie Trattner Day 14 of 30 This is Henry Hasenbush and Corrie Trattner’s story: It’s difficult to write about my husband’s Parkinson’s disease without acknowledging the heartbreaking, rocky road we traveled. He was initially diagnosed in 2015, and it was confirmed the next year. We…

Photo courtesy of Tommy Stringer Day 13 of 30 This is Tommy Stringer’s story: Having recently resigned from my elected position in the South Carolina House of Representatives after 13 years, may it be said that the only thing progressive about me is Parkinson’s disease. Pardon my political humor,…

Photo courtesy of Debbie Lucchesi Day 12 of 30 This is Debbie Lucchesi’s story: I have been active my whole life, from learning from my dad how to ski by standing on the front of his skis to being a runner in the Chicago Marathon. Originally, my profession was…

Photo courtesy of Christine Scheer Day 11 of 30 This is Christine Scheer’s story: On my 60th birthday, I received a life-changing phone call: My surgery for deep brain stimulation was scheduled for the following month! I was so happy and terrified that I cried…

Photo courtesy of Traci Caldwell Day 10 of 30 This is Traci Caldwell’s story: My Parkinson’s journey is a little complicated. Unique, some may say. It started July 2018 after I began a new medication that caused a seizure and left me with dystonic movements. Doctors said it would…

Photo courtesy of John Citron Day 9 of 30 This is John Citron’s story: Parkinson’s disease is a cruel monster that quietly takes away things we like to do. It ruins careers, and it destroys one’s soul bit by bit, subtly and insidiously, so that nothing can…

Photo courtesy of Lisa Murphy Day 8 of 30 This is Lisa Murphy’s story: Aloha from Kauai, Hawaii! I am Lisa Murphy and I was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s disease one week after my 49th birthday, on July 3, 2013. It started with a slight tremor in…

Photo courtesy of Marjorie Weiss Day 7 of 30 This is Marjorie Weiss’ story: “You have Parkinson’s disease,” the doctor told my husband, David, when he was just 49. He promised him 20 good years with medications to support him, but within four years I was the sole…