Parkinsons at 34..Our sisters story
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Our sister’s story….
Back in 2008 our sister had married the love of her life and was pregnant with their first child. Pregnancy brings on a myriad of change to the body and the shaking she began to experience in her fingers and hand was put down to the baby leaning on a nerve.
As time went on the shaking and tremor in her fingers and hand didn’t seem to subside and she expressed her concerns to her obstetrician. She was sent to a neurologist who said not to worry and he would do more tests following the pregnancy. He knew exactly what the symptoms meant, but wanted her to enjoy the only pregnancy she would have.
Joshua was born in February 2009, and the following days were a series of neurological tests, which confirmed Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 34. The average age for Parkinson’s is 65 and more common in males, so how on earth could she have this disease?
Seven years on she is experiencing many of the typical Parkinson’s symptom’s; uncontrollable shaking and tremor, slowed movement, difficulty with fine motor movement and dyskinesia (uncontrolled movement) dominate her daily life. Unfortunately, her medication has become ineffective in controlling her symptoms and her life is dominated by uncontrolled movement. The simple acts of falling asleep, doing up buttons on a shirt, putting on make up, exercise have become extremely difficult to do.
She has now decided with the support of her Dr’s and family to pursue an operation called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). DBS is a neurosurgical procedure involving the implantation of a medical device called a brain pacemaker, which sends electrical impulses, through implanted electrodes, to specific parts of the brain for the treatment of movement disorders. The treatment is very costly and we would appreciate any support.
Gina, Belinda and Michael.
Back in 2008 our sister had married the love of her life and was pregnant with their first child. Pregnancy brings on a myriad of change to the body and the shaking she began to experience in her fingers and hand was put down to the baby leaning on a nerve.
As time went on the shaking and tremor in her fingers and hand didn’t seem to subside and she expressed her concerns to her obstetrician. She was sent to a neurologist who said not to worry and he would do more tests following the pregnancy. He knew exactly what the symptoms meant, but wanted her to enjoy the only pregnancy she would have.
Joshua was born in February 2009, and the following days were a series of neurological tests, which confirmed Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 34. The average age for Parkinson’s is 65 and more common in males, so how on earth could she have this disease?
Seven years on she is experiencing many of the typical Parkinson’s symptom’s; uncontrollable shaking and tremor, slowed movement, difficulty with fine motor movement and dyskinesia (uncontrolled movement) dominate her daily life. Unfortunately, her medication has become ineffective in controlling her symptoms and her life is dominated by uncontrolled movement. The simple acts of falling asleep, doing up buttons on a shirt, putting on make up, exercise have become extremely difficult to do.
She has now decided with the support of her Dr’s and family to pursue an operation called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). DBS is a neurosurgical procedure involving the implantation of a medical device called a brain pacemaker, which sends electrical impulses, through implanted electrodes, to specific parts of the brain for the treatment of movement disorders. The treatment is very costly and we would appreciate any support.
Gina, Belinda and Michael.
Organizer
Belinda Kelaher
Organizer
New South Wales
