My PD Story

In 2015, my husband Mike and I were living the dream. Mike was a nurse who ran the cath lab (also known as the cardiac catheterization laboratory where doctors perform heart procedures and tests) at our local hospital and I owned a successful commercial cleaning company with 15 employees.  

We had the house we had always dreamed of, nice cars, we traveled and participated in our church ministry. We were a great team but then it all came tumbling down. At just 55 years old, Mike was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD).  

I started crying because I just couldn't believe it. The doctor wasn’t compassionate when he told us the news. We were both in shock. When we got in the car, we texted our kids. At that time, it felt like we were walking into a nightmare. When the shock wore off, the grief and the mourning for the life we had worked so hard for together set in and stayed there for a long time. 

Initially, we tried to maintain what we knew while also trying to navigate our Parkinson’s journey. What does this life look like? I was running my business and Mike was going to work. When Mike started getting sick on the medications, that’s when my identity changed. Caregiver became my new title.  

Explore our Care Partner resources, including Practical Pointers to help your loved one navigate day-to-day challenges.

Read Now

In our marriage, Mike was always the strong one, the glue that held our family together. Now with the roles reversed — I had to make the decisions. His PD progressed and his tremors became so bad that I had to feed him and help him with almost every facet of this life. The only time he felt relief was when he was asleep.  

We had to find something because the medications were not working. That’s when we heard about deep brain stimulation (DBS). We researched all the big players, but ultimately decided that the Abbott system was the best for our needs. Our son is an engineer and helped us make the choice.  

Back then, you had to be on medication for at least two years before you could be a candidate for DBS. We were young and it seemed that only older people were having the procedure. There wasn’t a lot out there for people like us. 

Eventually, we met another couple who were younger and asked if they wanted to get together. Our group got bigger. We started meeting regularly and separating into the men’s and women’s groups. It was a safe place. 

After Mike underwent DBS, the doors just opened. We started talking to other couples about DBS. We wanted to be a resource. We wanted to be that for others because we didn’t have it for ourselves. Last year, we joined Abbott’s Patient Ambassador Program. They help match us with others who are looking for information, are similar in age and have similar interests.  

Between that program and our own contacts, we have talked to about 60 other people so far. It’s been so rewarding, and we know we are helping others take control of their lives with Parkinson’s disease. 

Learn more about deep brain stimulation and other Parkinson’s treatment options.