Micheal J fox

affects his speach and neck twitching. He found out that because he has tealangctasia (probably spelled

wrong) it is killing off brain cells and causing the early PD. The tealangctasia is a blood disorder which can

affect brain, kidneys and other organs. He also suffers from a rage oriented siezure disorder and Raynauds.

Seems like the deck is stacked against him. Unfortunately, his girlfriend, who is the mother of his 5 year old,

thinks he is faking it. Boy, does this sound familiar. I went through the same thing when I tried to get him

tested when he was a kid and his Dad said we were just getting him mad and that was why he was getting

so ticked off. WRONG. The EEG said he was one glitch higher than the textbook case of the siezure disorder.

He doesn't have any medical coverage so it's impossible to go to a dr.

               nana monster

Shadow,

I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2001 - symptoms 2-3 years before that ('Oh yeah .... THAT's what that was.) I have been very fortunate to have had a slow progression.

What makes me not give up? 1) I have to believe that there will be a cure or significant advancement in the treatment of PD before it's too late for me, and 2) I believe there was a reason this happened to me and that the reason is for me to use my strengths, in combination with other's strengths, to help others with PD.

'Help' has meant different things to me including: starting a young onset PD support group, going to Capitol Hill with Parkinson's Action Network (PAN) to lobby for PD legislation, educating PD folks on the benefits of exercise for PWP at Rock Steady Boxing, and most often ... listening.

I'm a fighter. I ain't goin' down .. and if I do, it won't be without a fight. Dukes up!