Exciting family news gives me hope for the future of Parkinson’s

Oh boy, where did the summer go? The past few weeks have passed at what feels like warp speed. Lately, everything reminds me to keep pushing, not give up, and remember that hope lives right here with us.

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015, and in 2021, I had deep brain stimulation surgery. Both were big life events for my family and me. Right now, overall, I’m feeling pretty steady day to day. I still have ups and downs, but my symptoms are fairly well-managed, and I’m able to stay active and involved in the things I love. Life goes on, and guess what? It’s not all about Parkinson’s.

In the past month, I ran a 5K race to support our local YMCA, our walking team raised $15,000 for our local Parkinson’s society, I hosted a book club meeting, cooked Sunday night suppers with the family, held our daughter’s baby shower here, hosted a birthday party for our granddaughter, and had family members over for Thanksgiving dinner.

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The most exciting thing, however, was that my youngest daughter, Anna, an artist, was awarded one of the biggest art prizes in the world! Her winning piece, “Found,” is an intricate fine-line drawing. She is only 30 years old, and this prize is life-changing.

The funny thing is, she didn’t think she had a chance of winning, so she wasn’t even going to tell me and my husband, John, when the closing ceremony was, because she didn’t want us to be disappointed. I told her we just wanted to be there for moral support; win or lose, we were proud of her.

This award has two parts: the people’s choice and the panel’s choice. The panel was definitely the harder one to win, so once they announced the people’s choice, which she didn’t win, we had given up hope, and she told us she had too.

Then, when they announced her name, we were shocked. I, of course, instantly started crying — tears of joy, the best kind! After that, it was a blur of congratulations, more tears, and lots of hugs.

We’ve all been floating on air for a few weeks now. I feel that the whole family has benefited from this award. For me, it is a symbol of hope that says, “Don’t give up; you never know what is around the corner.”

So, the next time I don’t feel like doing something, whether it’s socializing, exercising, cooking, driving, or traveling, I need to remind myself that pushing through is a positive thing. I am also reminded of how important my friends and family are on this journey. We really are in this together. Someday, somebody will figure out a cure for this confounded disease, and I’ll be waiting — probably crying, but I am determined not to miss it!

Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.