What is it Like to Have Parkinson’s Disease?
Video by Nick Hawkes
Ever wonder what it’s like to have a debilitating disease like Parkinson’s? To know that you are deteriorating, losing your mobility, your independence?
In this video, Invictus Coach, Nick Hawkes, interviews his mom about her experience with the disease, reflecting back to the warning signs even before she was diagnosed, all the trial and error in finding the right combination of meds, surgery to have an electrode implanted in her brain, and discovering ways to keep active and not succumb to the disease.
Her sweet nature and honest replies give you an intimate look at what it’s like to take on the battle of your life. Her unwavering strength and determination to keep moving are both inspiring to make the most of what we have and motivating to never stop using your body.
Nick’s mother, Sue, has been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for the past 15 years. For those of you unfamiliar with the disease, Parkinson’s attacks the body’s ability to produce dopamine and slowly robs you of your ability to control your own body.
In the simplest of terms, it is a disease that takes away your ability to move freely. It makes simple tasks that you take for granted, like signing a birthday card, extremely difficult. Even leaving the house can become concerning enough for those suffering from the disease to become homebound.
Exercising Takes on a New Purpose
Most of us exercise to lose weight, get that 6-pack, or even train for an event. But when you’re diagnosed with Parkinson’s, you exercise to be able to use your body and so you can keep your independence.
Luckily for Sue, with the help of her son, she’s found a recipe for treatment that includes both medications, brain stimulators, and exercise. Since finding out about his mom’s condition, Nick has been passionate about movement, motor control, and function and has helped create a plan for her that seems to be keeping her at a reasonable level of mobility that is not declining at a rate that many others see.
She may not do her step aerobics anymore but Nick has been creative with ideas for her to try. One exercise modality that she saw great success with was “Rolling the Ropes” which uses a heavier rope than a jump rope but it’s not for jumping. Instead, the rope is used as a tool to enhance rhythm, awareness, connectivity, and linkage. Rolling the ropes allows you to express motion across planes and in various directions. It has been really interesting for Nick and Sue to see the rapid improvements in her movement fluidity in only a few sessions of practice.
The 3 Peak Challenge
To honor his mom, raise money for Parkinson’s research and to celebrate and enjoy his own body’s ability to move freely, Nick and fellow Invictus Coach, Holden Rethwill, have decided to do the SoCal 3 Peak Challenge. Parkinson’s took the life of Holden’s grandfather so this is a cause near and dear to both of them.
This Challenge is an undertaking of the three highest peaks in Southern California – Mt. Baldy, San Jacinto, and San Gorgonio. The combination of these three is roughly 40 miles of hiking! But here is the kicker; their goal is to summit all three peaks within 24 hours!
How to Participate in the Three Peak Challenge
Donate to the Fundraising Page!
Their goal is to raise $3000 and donate it to the Michael J Fox Foundation’s research for Parkinson’s Disease.
If you are interested in joining Nick and Holden in their training or on their journey – please send your videos or email, questions or comments to Holden or Nick.
I am 65 years old, I was diagnosed of Parkinsons disease at the age of 59. I had severe calf pain, muscle pain, slurred speech, frequent falls, loss of balance, difficulty getting up from sitting position. I was placed on Sinemet 3 times daily, it helped me but not very much. My neurologist advised me to try natural treatments and introduced me to Rich Herbal Garden Parkinsons Disease Herbal formula, I read alot of positive reviews from other patients who used the treatment and i immediately started on the treatment. I had great improvement and relief with this treatment, total… Read more »
I am a 51 year old female that just found out I have Motor Neuron Disease Parkinson’s about a year and half, but I have been having signs of it for years, tremors, depression, body weakness. ECT. I honestly don’t think my doctor was reading the signs because of my gender and age. A few years ago I had my shoulder lock up on me and I was sent to a P.T since x-rays didn’t show any physical damage. My shaking was getting worse and I began falling. Only when my speech became so bad that it brought concern to… Read more »