Hi, I’m Tim, and I have Parkinson disease.
After being diagnosed nine years ago, my wife and I began exploring symptom management and ways to continue living well with the disease.
Unfortunately, in November of 2020, my wife, my care partner, passed on from ovarian cancer. I retired two years later and started to wallow in loneliness. I needed to get out of the house and learn how to thrive with Parkinson’s.
I joined a focus research group hosted by the Movement Disorders program through the University of Alberta. The program aims to impart a sense of hope, foster meaningful behavioral changes, improve health related quality of life for people living with PD, and reduce the caregiver burden.
The program also informed me that regular exercise could help alleviate some of my symptoms. Physical activity would help reduce my muscle rigidity, tremors and balance issues. I needed to get moving.
Parkinson Association of Alberta offered some great programs at their Edmonton Buchanan Centre meant to raise my heart rate and improve my strength and balance – I joined their Power, Balance and Reach program and attended twice a week. The boxing program brought a higher level of physical activity, and I just joined their newest program – in partnership with Alberta ballet – Dancing with Parkinson’s.
In addition to the great programs I take through PAA, I also partake three times a week in Shallow Water Aquafit at Confederation Leisure Centre, and once a week I take a Movement Journey course to help develop my walking mechanics.
Soon enough, my loneliness started fading, as I increased my interactions with the other people in these programs. My body mass and composition improved from the exercises, and I developed a more positive mindset from all these activities.
I still miss my wife, but she would want me to keep strengthening my physical and mental health, and always be moving forward!
