Optimistic yet Realistic

I recently watched a moving video about a man named Andy who was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease. Andy is a full-time dad and husband and it is very obvious that he has an amazing support system. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the production of dopamine in your brain. Once the dopamine is no longer being produced effectively, muscle tone increases causing bradykinesia, tremors, and balance issues. 

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Even with his progression of Parkinson's, Andy is still able to do many different occupations and ADLs, with some modifications. One example is his driving. Andy is still able to drive his children to and from school by adjusting the way he used the steering wheel. He also had difficulty transferring his right leg to the brake so now he uses his right leg for the gas pedal and his left for the brake. 

Andy is optimistic yet realistic about his condition. He has recognized now that he spends more time than he ever has with his two daughters. This diagnosis has increased the amount of time they spend together. He is realistic in the sense that he still works, however, knows that his time at his job is limited. He wants to make the most of the functional time that he has. 

While at work, he oftentimes is straightforward when working with new people. He immediately acknowledges his condition to whomever he meets and explains that it doesn't change how he works there. From that, he is well respected by his peers and friends.

Other lifestyle changes were their living situation. They previously paid a very expensive mortgage, however, now they rent their home. This is to cut down expenses due to how expensive PD treatment is. His wife found that after selling things and only keeping what they actually need is "freeing." She enjoys the simpler lifestyle. 

Andy stated that "you have to physically fight back PD" and he does this by exercising regularly with a neuro physiotherapist.  A neuro physiotherapist assesses and treats people with disorders of the central nervous system that affect the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Their job also consists of exercises similar to physical therapists. 

I chose to write about Andy's story because I was so amazed by his optimism. He is realistic yet inspiring to others. 

You can watch Andy's story on Youtube here. 

To help explain his diagnosis to his children, Andy wrote an inspiring poem. 

   "Smaller" by Andy McDowell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PFknl5YFsE

My world got smaller

my handwriting

my voice

my walk

my spirit

my balance

the space in the world I take up

It crept up on me — this slowness did

in micro increments

(those are big words for small and slow)

until it arrived with a name

And then it became BIG

and scary

and I didn’t want it

But now I had a face

a reason for the smallness

and so it became what it is

I may be smaller, slower

but I’m still me

References

Elkouzi, A. (n.d.). What is Parkinson's? Parkinson's Foundation. https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/what-is-parkinsons. 

Lancaster, S., (2021, August). OT537: Neurological Aspects of Occupational Performance, Lecture Parkinson's Disease [Powerpoint Slide]. Retrieved from https://blackboard.uthsc.edu/ultra/courses/_18020_1/cl/outline.

McDowell, A. (2013, May 6). Smaller - a poem about Parkinson's (World Parkinson's Congress). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PFknl5YFsE.

Penfold, J. (2018, February 21). Career: So you want to be a ...neurological specialist? The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. https://www.csp.org.uk/frontline/article/career-so-you-want-be-neurological-specialist.