Here are two contrasting stories of Young Onset Parkies in the recent news.
1. Top Reader Response in This Week’s New York Times
Chris, in San Francisco, wrote a reader response to a NY Times article about the U.S. House of Representatives’ repeal of the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare). His comment received the most reader recommendations (think Facebook “likes”) for the entire week.
Here are the first two paragraphs:
“I have had young-onset Parkinson’s disease for 15 years, with symptoms appearing at the age of 32. With a PhD from UC Berkeley and a successful career in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry, I never dreamed of a world in which I was essentially un-insurable — until it happened to me in 2012.
My symptoms had progressed to a point where I could no longer work, and to where I needed a surgical procedure called deep brain stimulation (DBS). DBS was not economically feasible until I participated in California’s [Affordable Care Act]-mandated insurance market, Covered California, in 2014.”
As you can imagine, with the Republican-controlled Congress and the current President of the United States all psyched up to throw not only the Obamacare baby out with the bathwater but the entire bathtub, too, Chris is both afraid and outraged that in the future his pre-existing condition may prevent him from being able to afford health care insurance, or health care, period.
357 New York Times’ readers gave his comment a thumbs up.
2. Young Onset Parky Foregoes Meds and Tries to Beat PD Via Exercise
Anthony Catanzaro, a professional body builder in New York City (he won Mr. Fitness International in 1996), was diagnosed with PD in 2013. Surprisingly, he has decided to not take any medications and instead try to cure himself through physical exercise, meditation, and spirituality.
It’s interesting to me that he’s still able to lift heavy weights (e.g., he squats 300 lbs.) but cannot button his shirt or brush his teeth. Yet he soldiers on, hoping to prove to the world that exercise, diet and reduced stress can rid your body of PD symptoms.
Two paragraphs from one of the online articles:
Although Parkinson’s has taken away so much from him, Catanzaro believes his diagnosis now gives him the chance to show people that you can beat this disease without the help of drugs. Even though there is currently no known cure for Parkinson’s disease, he wants to fight it at its core, and not just treat his symptoms with drugs that often can have side effects that are worse than the disease itself.
“My goal is to heal the disease with a body, mind and soul healing, which I believe is the cure to any ailment,” Catanzaro said. “I believe that the body can heal itself when we are in a calm, happy and peaceful state. Disease is brought on by stress, and I was experiencing a lot of that prior to my diagnosis.”
This all sounds hopeful, yet the same article on Anthony includes a link to a Go Fund Me page, where he and his wife seek donations to help Anthony counter his disability.
Body Building’s online magazine also reports on Anthony, although their title irks me: This “Superman of Fitness” Battles for His Life. The hyperbolic phrase “battles for his life” makes it sound like the undertaker’s about to nail the coffin on Anthony if he doesn’t thrash back. Parkinson’s disease is nasty, yes, but people go on living, often quite well, and it’s not like they’re fighting for their life every day. (Examples: Michael J. Fox, Janet Reno, Michael Kinsley, the people I play ping-pong with every Wednesday night.)
This recalls another recent article about PD, this time in HuffPost. The writer, who doesn’t have PD but takes care of someone who does, mentions the humor that often ensues because of the disease. For example:
He found some kind of humor in his condition. He once told me how when he had his first tremor, he had an intimate moment with “Parkie” (his nickname for Parkinson’s disease) on the floor and ended up finding his wife’s favorite missing earring.
He taught me there’s always a way to find something to laugh about and appreciate the little things life has to offer.
And now I’m about to appreciate one of the many things life has to offer: My gym! Best wishes to Chris, Anthony, and everyone else!
