By Ellie FInch Hulme
who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 29
Parkinson’s is incurable, not terminal: you die with Parkinson’s, not from it. It is a common misconception that Parkinson’s kills.
Parkinson’s is life-changing, not life-ending: I’ve given birth to two beautiful, bright, healthy children since being diagnosed and I’m confident that I’m just as competent and loving a mother as I would have been without PD. You can still achieve things if you adapt around your symptoms and identify what motivates you and makes you happy.
Parkinson’s is different every day. Talking to others or writing about your unique experience of the condition – when you’re ready – can be helpful when it comes to accepting what is happening to you, but don’t benchmark: everyone experiences PD differently, and will progress differently.
Parkinson’s takes all the little things you ever took for granted and waves them in your face, laughing at you as it watches you struggle.
In doing point four, Parkinson’s dares you to live. And I don’t know about you, but I’m not one for passing up a dare.
