(Editor’s note:  We are grateful to Madison Templeton, who passed along some thoughts from her grandfather, Roger, a ten-year Parkinson’s patient until his death May 4, 2025, in suburban Chicago.  Roger was a businessman, an antiques trader, a husband and the father of four. These three vignettes are penned by Roger and have been published posthumously.)

I

I have Parkinson’s Disease. It’s a progressing, degeneration of the brain; kind of like a “loose wire” up there that gradually makes simple, everyday function a challenge. I recently asked a few of my “Parky friends” this impromptu survey question: “If you could exchange your unhealthy, diseased brain for a new healthy one with a new start, would you do it?”

Think about it. Being physically and emotionally whole again. Being able to walk straight, run, jump. Do simple everyday activities without impairment. No embarrassing shaking, drooling, speech problems, falling, etc. But with your “new healthy brain” comes a fresh start. A clean slate.  No history of family, friends, teachers, loved ones. No school days, no first loves, no jobs, careers, children. No history of who you are or who you’ve become. Of course, in our lives we all have experienced hardships, pain, suffering, and losses. That’s also a part of your life. It too has contributed to who we are today.

Well, you can probably guess the answer I received to my question. No one would take the trade! Because we are who we are, and we will live our lives the best we can despite a Parkinson’s “problem.”

II

I have been living with Parkinson’s for a while now. I have heard all the well-meaning bull about “living the best we can do,” “playing the cards we are dealt,” etc. Bullsh*t!

Parkinson’s affects every part of a person’s body and mind from head to toe. It is a disgusting, embarrassing, humiliating condition. We piss on ourselves, soil our pants, choke on food, slobber and stumble and fall. There is no way to plan, because tomorrow will most likely be a worse day. We are advised to exercise and walk more, when our toes and feet are causing extreme pain. We are told to continue social activities, when we are masking (dumb blank look) or drooling or shaking uncontrollably. Embarrassing to witness, much less to be the source. Parkinson’s Disease doesn’t kill us outright. It just makes us wish we were dead.

Sounds depressing. Pretty dismal. In truth, it has created a whole new chapter in my life story. I’ve made great new friends. I’ll take a pill.

III

This is a story that I’ve told many times.  So I wrote it down.  One day, not too long ago, I was doing some physical therapy at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.  Just walking – exercise around the hallways.  Everything was painted white.  At the end of a long hallway coming around a corner was what appeared to me to be a robot.  Clicking along with two red arms and a red metal leg, it was a younger man with two prosthetic arms and a prosthetic leg.  I couldn’t imagine what could have caused such an injury.  Run over by a train?  Perhaps.

As we approached each other, I smiled a “hello” smile at him and he returned one.  I absent-mindedly blurted out, “How’s it going today?”  He responded, “Great, I feel great.”  I continued walking down the hallway and he resumed in the opposite direction.  After 15 or 20 steps, I turned around to watch him click away.  I thought to myself, “This guy says he feels great?  I am going to stop complaining.”

I never saw the guy after that, but talking to some of the therapists they all said he was always in a good mood.  Later I found out that this fellow did the Sears Tower stair-climb, about 100 stories.  An amazing feat even for a healthy person.

I really wished I could have gotten to know that guy better.  Our chance meeting was brief but rememberable.  Whenever I am feeling down and sorry for myself, I think about this guy.  And I feel great.