Jessie Madrigal Fletcher

Michael Morale talks about his father, Nick Morale, who on Oct. 10, 2015, drew his last breath. Before he started showing signs of Parkinson’s, Michael’s father was the role model for health. Michael used to call him his little Arnold Schwarzenegger. Yet, as his Parkinson’s increased in severity, his balance and walking became a constant rem…[Read more]

This is Jessie M.F.’s story… actually, that’s me! I have 10 aunts, four on the British side of my family, six on the Spanish side. Among my Spanish aunts, one of them is particularly special. I know her as “Mari”, although her real name is Victoria.

My aunt was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a couple of years ago. And while the #30Days…[Read more]

Lynne Sweilem was born with a perpetually positive outlook and resiliency. When it came time to choose a career, she decided to become a speech pathologist. She knew she had found her calling — treating people with Parkinson’s disease. Lynne became the Parkinson’s specialist in her department at work.

Then, things changed: she was diagn…[Read more]

John Alexander was diagnosed twelve years ago.  Early on, he heard about the importance of exercise in controlling disease progression. One of his favorite activities over the years had been cycling, so he made it his “go to” form of exercise.

Soon enough, John began riding with a group. He heard about charity rides to raise money for a good…[Read more]

Cathy Chiaramonte knows a thing or two about Parkinson’s. She was diagnosed ten years ago. Overnight, her plans for the future shifted dramatically. She began a painful process of self-education, mourning, and gradual acceptance that continues today.

She credits much of her learning to other Parkinson’s patients. Cathy knows to never u…[Read more]

Melissa Livingston was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD) at 45. She grieved, medicated,  researched, connected, advocated, lobbied, and read every medical document she could get her hands on. Soon, she got involved with policy reform and took action.

Melissa believes a good life is possible with YOPD, despite the many ch…[Read more]

Darlene Barbian is a mom to Sam. Sam was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 21. Sam is now 31, yet not a single day goes by that Darlene does not worry about her daughter.

At the start of this journey, Darlene told her daughter that she would do anything for her. Sometimes she wants to take over everything. Others, she feels like she’s too h…[Read more]

Chris Kustanbauter thought that at 46 he was too young to have Parkinson’s. “You’ve always been an athlete and never gave up, so don’t give up now,” he told himself.

Chris focused on these strategies: Attitude, Exercise, Nutrition, and Community. His journey has not always been smooth. The motor symptoms pose a challenge most days. Chris’ ma…[Read more]

Steven Oppen was diagnosed in 2013. While not every Parkinson’s patient qualifies as a DBS (deep brain stimulation) candidate, Steven did.

DBS involves having a neurosurgeon drill one or two holes in the skull, they then insert a battery and a regulating device into a patient’s chest so that she/he can alter the brain signals that need to be r…[Read more]

Corrie Trattner remembers her husband, Henry Hasenbush.

Henry was initially diagnosed in 2015, and it was confirmed the following year. He was a social person who loved to travel, go to restaurants and museums, and converse with others to learn about their lives. He worked compassionately with the mentally ill, was a loving father to two…[Read more]

Twelve years ago, Debbie Lucchesi switched careers to become a personal trainer and cycle instructor. Little did she know then that having a healthy lifestyle and a passion for working out would be so helpful after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

After her diagnosis, she become active in the Parkinson’s Foundation. She par…[Read more]

Traci Caldwell’s Parkinson’s journey is a little complicated. It started in July 2018 after some new medication caused a seizure and left her with dystonic movements. Doctors said it would resolve after stopping the medication, but it continued.

Traci went to many different doctors and sadly got no answers. It was very frustrating and sca…[Read more]

John Citron’s always had a passion for music and piano performance, although his career ended up being in IT. Yet, with increasing symptoms from Parkinson’s Disease, he ended up on disability for Parkinson’s Disease at 51 years old.

John still continues his music studies and enjoys model railroading virtually, but does feel that, in a nutsh…[Read more]

Lisa Murphy was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease one week after her 49th birthday. Right after she devoured all of the research, nutrition books, and more. Slowing down progression was Lisa’s number one goal.

Lisa believes that all the Smovey and beach walking, hiking, HIIT workouts, yoga, SUP, Qigong, RSB, dancing, every daily m…[Read more]

This is Marjorie Weiss’ story: “You have Parkinson’s disease,” the doctor told her husband, David, when he was just 49.

They were promised 20 good years with medications to support him, but within four years Marjorie was the sole breadwinner.
Salvation arrived with deep brain stimulation surgery (DBS). And after 20 years, the DBS conti…[Read more]

Laura Imbimbo had a wake-up call four and a half years ago that changed her life. It all began with micrographia, tiny cramped handwriting. As an artistic person, Laura had big, loopy handwriting. When her handwriting became tiny and it physically hurt to write, she knew something was off. She was officially diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at t…[Read more]

Gauri Khare was diagnosed at age 41. Refusing to believe her doctor, she carried on with her life. Three to four years passed and her symptoms had worsened. She was diagnosed once more and put on medications, but much to Gauri’s dismay, she couldn’t tolerate the side effects. Over time, physiotherapy sessions helped her regain her strength, and a…[Read more]

Brittany Dunnum is a soon-to-be speech therapist. Watching her grandfather battle Parkinson’s disease has shaped her.

Even after his diagnosis, she still had little grasp of what it meant. It wasn’t until the year after his passing (caused by complications of PD and suspected dementia) that she received more formal training about the dis…[Read more]

Barbara Traynor was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2014 at age 75, and upon her diagnosis, she yelled: “I’m not going to change my lifestyle!”

Next… she ran away! After her diagnosis, Barbara took six months to volunteer, and six months with family and friends. She kept her diagnosis a secret and did as much research as she could,…[Read more]