Artist diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 33

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 33 in 2014. The medication is no longer effective: either I have a lot of tremors, rigidity and pain or troublesome dyskinesias that makes it almost impossible to walk or use my hands, which is difficult in my profession as an artist, curator and musician.

I need your support to finance a cutting edge surgery called MRgFUS (Magnet Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound Pallidothalamic Tractotomy) currently only available in Switzerland. Treated patients experience a close to complete reduction of symptoms as dyskinesia, dystonia, pain and REM sleep disorder, 84% reduction of tremors and a 70% reduction of rigidity and distal hypobradykinesia. The cost is CHF 35 000, around 440 000 SEK +travel and accommodation.

I just released the album AUTORHYTHM – Songs for the Nervous System. Earlier this year I was part of the exhibition Swedish Ecstacy at Bozar in Brussels. I would very much like to regain my ability to control my body to continue my creative explorations.

www.joakimforsgren.com