Eventually Terry was given his life-changing diagnosis of Parkinson’s and he remembers how vulnerable it made him feel. He wondered how he would be able to handle it. Recently, Terry needed Parkinson’s New Zealand’s help to manage a particularly bad experience. His medication had been doubled and it was causing him severe anxiety and depression. He reached out to one of our Parkinson’s Nurses who visited him at his home to discuss with him what he could do to relieve the debilitating anxiety.
Terry saw how vital it was to have a Parkinson’s Nurse there for him who understood the side-effects of Parkinson’s medicines and what he needed to do. He regularly attends Parkinson’s support groups to learn more about what Parkinson’s means for him and what he can do to manage his symptoms. Terry also shares what he has learnt so he can encourage others who are living with Parkinson’s daily.
With ongoing Parkinson’s support Terry is motivated to keep learning and is focused on rebuilding himself. Terry says, “Some days it feels like Parkinson’s just keeps taking more away from you and it would be easier to just go into a cocoon and give up. But, I’m not going to do that. I will not give up.”
Today, Terry sees Parkinson’s “as a journey better taken together.” It is not something he needs to try and handle by himself: “It would be a very lonely journey on your own.”
Although, there are days when every step Terry takes is one thoughtfully and deliberately taken, and days when fatigue hits him without warning and knocks him for six, Terry knows that help is only a phone call away.
