My PD Story

It’s February 25, 2020 and I’m 38 years old, married with three kids under 5. I finished the NYC Marathon three years ago and since then my left leg and arm slowly stopped swinging while I ran or walked. I’ve seen every specialist under the sun over the past three years and if someone tells me I should “try yoga” again my head might explode. I was finally able to make an appointment with a movement disorders specialist, a neurologist with specialized training in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other movement disorders.  

My neurologist calls me back into the exam room and asks me several questions. He nods his head up and down knowingly. Then he says, “let’s see you walk some.” I get halfway down the hallway, and I hear “that’s good, turnaround and come back.” As he ushers me into the exam room again, he says “let’s sit down.” Judging by the expression on his face I think to myself this doesn’t look good. “I’m sorry to tell you this but you have early-onset Parkinson’s disease.”  

At that point I knew very little about Parkinson’s disease other than that I’d heard Michael J Fox has it. What about my family? My kids? What about my career? What about my mortgage? And a hundred other questions start flying through my head. The world around me is closing in and there’s not a whole lot I can do about it.  

Back in the exam room and I gather the courage to ask, “am I going to die from this?” My doctor looks up at me and says “let’s take this one day at a time. I’m going to prescribe you medicine and let’s get you running again.” Running has always been my escape and my anchor in tough times. “Let’s get you running again” was music to my ears. 

Since then, I’ve learned an awful lot about Parkinson’s and how it affects me as well as others. I’ve made some amazing friends, and I continue to live my life to the fullest. Since my diagnosis I’ve toed the line at two 200+ mile races and finished several marathons and ultra-marathons. I’m the head coach of my son’s football team and cheer on my daughter’s at all their sporting events. I’ve started a non-profit organization to further the research and development of new medicines, techniques and treatments that support patients diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s.  

I’m as active as I’ve ever been and what I want others to know, especially those newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, that you are not your diagnosis and you can live an amazingly fulfilling life.  

This April, in honor of Parkinson’s Awareness Month I will be running the Boston Marathon as a Parkinson’s Champion as part of Team Abbott and I couldn’t be more excited. Hope to see you on the racecourse! 

Learn more about Abbott’s new DBS Ambassador Program. 

Run as a Parkinson’s Champion today! Help raise funds and awareness for the Parkinson’s Foundation while competing in some of the world’s most popular endurance events.