Project Parkinson Kids - Welcome!

Project Parkinson Kids is a special project I am doing with my 8 year old daughter.

I am 36 years old and I was diagnosed with Parkinson disease at age 32. My kids were 1 and 4 at the time of my diagnosis. I was an RN and noticed I was having difficulty writing, starting IV's and I noticed I was dragging my right leg. Severe fatigue set in and then I began to notice a tremor in my right hand. I also noticed my right arm stopped swinging.

After going through every test known to man and seeing a variety of specialists, I saw a neurologist who took one look at my tremor and stiffness and diagnosed me with Parkinson disease. He told me I had 10 good years left and he would see me in 6 months. Are you kidding me? -- I was not about to have my life over at 42. I immediately threw myself into fundraising and reading every book I could find about PD.

I learned that my life was not over and I can live a very full life! It may have its challenges but I will not lie down -- never give up!

A few things I have done:

1) co-facilitator for a young onset PD support group in California (young onset meaning diagnosis is 50 or younger)

2) President and co-Founder of the San Fernando Valley Regional Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Assoc

3) coordinated the event "Pancakes for Parkinsons" in California and raised $5,000 for PD Research and local community programs

4) make PD bracelets to raise awareness and contribute part of the proceeds to PD research

5) started 3 exercise classes for PD patients: a 6 week pilates class, a "Yoga class for PD" - still ongoing and our newest upcoming class is "Boxing for Parkinsons"

6) And now the new project "Project Parkinson Kids" to help kids whose families are dealing with PD to express how they feel about PD