Waiting for Reality:

A couple of years ago I started having trouble with my left foot, it would become difficult to walk and sometimes stand so I went to a Podiatrist who sold me a pair of expensive inserts for my shoes. Next my leg muscles became tight and sore, I went to my friend who is a Physiotherapist and she suggested I see my doctor as my muscles were unusually tight. I didn’t think to ask why I just made an appointment with my doctor and after blood tests came back normal she referred me to a Neurologist who then referred me to colleague of his who specialised in movement disorders. I remember Michael J Fox’s press release, shaking as he announced it to the world he had a disease but when the Neurologist told me that I may have Early-Onset Parkinson’s Disease it didn’t click that it was the same disease. Back then I knew nothing about Parkinson’s but now I’m a walking encyclopaedia on the subject because although I have not been officially diagnosed I believe knowledge is power and I want to be prepared for what the future may bring. My Neurologist tells me diagnosis could take several years. I find waiting frustrating and depressing at the same time because people don’t tend to take you or your problems seriously when you don’t have a label which makes you question yourself and your body but I’m lucky to have such a fantastic support network of family, close friends, my fiancé and now Young at Park. I used to look forward to the future, getting married, having kids and growing old but the possibility of Parkinson’s has changed that for me, I’m an independent person who goes out of their way to look after people, not the other way around. I’m not ready to hang up my cape and retire from being superwoman, I wont let this disease define me as a person and I wont let it win.

Regards, Lauren

26 years old