Joan S.

I was 49 years old when I was diagnosed. I'm 69 now so I've had it for 20 years. I was a teaching assistant at an elementary school and as the years went on it got harder and harder. After 10 years, I figured it was time. I couldn't keep up anymore. I retired.
 
I have two grandchildren that accept me for what I am, for who I am. I'm not the kind of grandmother I wanted to be, I always thought I would be, because I can't be. I can't sit down on the floor and play games with them so we sit at the coffee table and play games. I have great friends, great family and I try to concentrate on what I have rather than what I don't have.
 
My life has changed. It's not worse, it's just different. I want to be remembered. I want my life to mean something. I make scrapbooks every year for my grandchildren so they'll have something physical to remember me by.
 
We've talked in our support group about deep brain stimulation. My husband says, he’ll do it in the garage for me … We laugh a lot and that makes a big difference.
      
We go for a ride once in a while, just to get out of the house. It doesn't matter where we go, just to get out a little bit, but I like being home more than I ever did before.
 
So rather than worry about what my life is going to be a year from now, I just live my life today and do what I can and enjoy myself and help anybody I can.
 
I think the Parkinson's though…it focuses your life.