Karyn

"Swing your arms!' my friend Debbie demanded of me.

It was a hot November day, just before my 44th birthday.

I looked at my shadow; my left arm lay limp next to my body, whilst my right arm swung as we walked.

And was my left leg dragging?

A sense of dread came over me... a stroke? MS?

I went to see my GP that afternoon, and she got me into a neurologist the next morning.

I am one of the rare ones diagnosed on the spot.

I didn't see it coming.

But I knew all about Parkinson's; my father had had it for 13 years. He called it a "nuisance." Until that year when I was diagnosed. His last year was to show me how ugly Parkinson's can be.

But hey; he got it at 65.

Mine is different. I'm what they call "Young Onset."

With my usual optimism, I decided to make the most out of my life.

I was pensioned out of my teaching job.

I began travelling.

My first trip was to a Young Onset Conference in Minnesota. I travelled to The USA 6 times, each time attending a conference, including The World Congress in Washington DC.

I attended The Unity Walk in New York City in 2006.

I travelled to Poland to follow my father's roots, cruised Alaska for my 25th wedding Anniversary, went to Thailand, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Prague, Amsterdam, Canada, New Zealand, and Venice. I drove through The UK countryside with my husband.

I rode a (push) bike through Vietnam as part of Parkinson's Victoria's "Pedal for Parkinson's" Team, in 2009. I raised over $8000, and tons of awareness for that one!

Meanwhile, while home, I started up a young onset group, YAP, which stands for "Young@Park."

I felt that there was a need for people like me to talk to others about Parkinson's, but was not ready for the local meetings. People with kids at home who may still be working, have different agendas.

It's been 8 years since I was diagnosed with Parkinson's, and though I am slowing down, I still maintain my positive attitude, and remain active.

With my fabulous, supportive husband  by my side, and surrounded by my genuinely concerned and loyal friends, life is good, and I won't let this 'nuisance get in my way.