We have many friends on this PD journey at various stages of their illnesses. It is interesting to look around and see how different this disease is for everyone. Some have little or no tremor whereas others, like my husband, struggle with hands that shake most of the time. There are members of our network who struggle to walk and another who runs marathons. It is amazing how the same diagnosis can present in so many different ways.

When we first learned about the local support group, we were hesitant to join. I didn’t know what we would find and wasn’t sure that I wanted to meet others who were more advanced in their illness. I was afraid to come face to face with our future. After being part of this amazing group of people for more than 2 years, I am now ashamed to admit that I ever felt that way. The reality is that we won’t know what the future holds for us until it is here.

Yes, there are people out there who have more advanced symptoms of this illness. Some are in wheelchairs, some with walkers, but they are still fighting. I have met so many wonderful people because of this diagnosis and know that we will be stronger thanks to their friendship and support. They are not our future, they are our present, and together we make it a better journey for all.