Living and caring with PSP
Supporting her mum, trying to understand her diagnosis, and stepping wholeheartedly into a carers role was a difficult and at times confronting experience. Bec has written a heartfelt and honest reflection of the years she and her family spent living and caring with PSP. She hopes that by sharing her story, other family members caring […]
How Fight Parkinson’s helped Wendy through diagnosis
Over a long career in physiotherapy, Wendy supported many patients living with Parkinson’s and had done all the training available to her on the condition. But none of that made her own Parkinson’s diagnosis any easier. “It’s the most badly handled thing I’ve ever come across,” she remembers. “They just gave me my diagnosis, and no one checked in on me […]
Will’s Run 4 Mum
When Will’s mum, Angela, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s five years ago, it came as a shock to the family. A bubbly, energetic, caring woman it’s been hard for the Hooper family to watch as the condition has progressed. But not one to sit still and watch, Will decided he wanted to do something positive to […]
Taking diagnosis head on from day one
To look at her life from the outside, Abby says there isn’t much that shows she has Parkinson’s, except her eagerness to tell everyone and anyone she meets. “I am not shy about sharing, if people ask me, I’ll tell them everything,” Abby said. “When I was diagnosed my neurologist was like, you can take […]
Mae was formidable, remarkable, but Progressive Supranuclear Palsy took her away too soon
These are the words of Queeny Stafford, who cared for her mum in the years before and after Mae’s diagnosis with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Queeny generously shared her story with us in the hope that other families will not feel as alone as she did, traversing the long and difficult journey to diagnosis. When […]
Retiring on your own terms
Christmas is meant to be a time of joy and festivity, even more so when it’s the first after you’ve hit retirement age but for Leigh, Christmas Eve 2013 wasn’t the day he had hoped for. After several months of worsening symptoms and concerns that a previous diagnosis of essential tremors was incorrect, 24 December […]
Masks on for Fight Parkinson’s fundraiser
Fight Parkinson’s relies on the generosity of individuals and community groups across Australia to ensure that no one is left to fight Parkinson’s alone. The Australasian Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) Nafsika Unit gathered earlier this year to raise much needed funds for Fight Parkinson’s. Niki Matziaris has spent much of her career, and more […]
Walk for PSP: Remembering and celebrating Ronda
A fiercely independent woman, Ronda dedicated her life to bringing joy to those around her. She spent four decades as a teacher and raised two daughters alongside her husband, Chris, in South Australia. Together they travelled the world, basking in new places and cultures. Ronda was adventurous, hopeful, a stickler for the rules, and most […]
Drew’s Parkinson’s diagnosis didn’t hold him back, it opened doors
Content warning: this story contains mentions of the Stolen Generations, and physical and sexual abuse that may be confronting for some readers. Drew has faced many battles in his life. The proud Narungga man from South Australia is a survivor of both the Stolen Generations and childhood abuse. He’s also lived with epilepsy from a […]
Sharon keeps the ‘fun’ in fundraising to support the Parkinson’s community
Parkinson’s has been part of Sharon’s life for nearly two decades, since her father’s diagnosis in 2005. Since then, she has been actively involved in supporting those living with Parkinson’s, participating in walks and fundraising events to raise money and awareness. Sharon’s latest venture, a trivia night fundraiser, brought together a community eager to support […]