"When I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the winter of 2021, I decided to keep the diagnosis a secret. Initially I didn't even tell my own three children. I didn't want people feeling sorry for me, or looking at me differently or, worse, treating me differently. I wanted to continue with my normal life while fighting the disease in private."
"As part of this fight, I attended a boxing class for Parkinson's patients. The class was filled with 80-year-old women pounding on a heavy bag, 75-year-old men dancing across the floor, elderly and trembling people working hard to stave off the effects of PD. They quickly became my heroes, and deserved to be illuminated as inspirations to others. I finally realized that I could tell their story and maybe push others to come out of the PD shadows and seek the same therapy."
"And, well, if I was going to write about others with Parkinson's disease, I would have to come clean about myself. So, with help from boxing instructor Jody Hould and sports editor Iliana Limón Romero, I did. And I'm glad I did. I've since heard from countless people that the story moved them to admit their illness and begin boxing therapy or other types of PD workouts."
An individual received a Parkinson's diagnosis in winter 2021 and initially kept the diagnosis secret, even from their three children, to avoid pity and different treatment. The individual joined a boxing class for Parkinson's patients where elderly participants trained intensely to counter PD symptoms. Those classmates became personal inspirations, prompting a decision to reveal the diagnosis and highlight the therapy to encourage others with PD to seek similar workouts. With assistance from a boxing instructor and a sports editor, the individual disclosed the condition publicly. The disclosure motivated many people to admit their illness and begin boxing or other PD therapies, helping the individual fight back.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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