Patient Stories

“His diagnosis motivated Carole, my wife, and me to learn about Parkinson’s. We started with a blank page,” Dave explains.

What they didn’t realize then was that the knowledge and perspective they gained while supporting Tom would later help guide Dave on his own journey with Parkinson’s.

From Diagnosis Denial to Acceptance

Even with years of experience supporting Tom, Dave admits he was filled with uncertainty about his own Parkinson’s diagnosis. He wrote a piece for the “Parkinson’s Support and Wellness” organization’s newsletter titled, “My New Reality.”

In that article, he admitted he worried a lot about what the disease would take from him and how rapidly that might happen. “I concluded with the words: ‘The answer is I don’t know and neither does anyone else.’”

That turning point gave Dave the freedom to move forward. “Acceptance of my diagnosis and, more importantly, accepting the uncertainty and unknowability of the road ahead, allowed me to think more positively about what I might do to make the quality of life ahead the best it could be.”

Navigating the Trail of Parkinson’s

Dave compares living with Parkinson’s to being on a long hike. “My hike began on mostly flat, firm terrain. Those were the nuisance years of Parkinson’s,” he explains. “As the years have gone by, the footing on the path has become less certain and the trail has become steeper. There are more twists and turns and fewer flat sections on which to take a breather.”

Finding His Way with a Supportive Care Team   

Dave credits his care team at UC Health’s James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders with helping him navigate the twists and turns.

“The support I have from the Gardner Center cannot be overstated,” he says. “I look forward to my six-month appointments with my Movement Disorder Specialist, Dr. Duker, and Nurse Practitioner Maureen Gartner. I have confidence that the combination of my input and their expertise will get us close to the best possible path forward. We are an awesome team.”

“Through his longstanding work with Parkinson groups, Dave has been a beacon of hope for so many families in the Greater Cincinnati region, because of his grace and fortitude in being both a support for Tom, and now for the example he sets of how to live well with Parkinson’s,” says Dr. Andrew Duker, Clinical Director of the Movement Disorders Center at the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute. 

“[Dave's] organized and systematic approach to his disease is commendable – he always comes in with a printed list of his symptoms and questions! His commitment to physical activity and exercise has undoubtedly helped improve his symptoms and condition.  He has made excellent use of the multidisciplinary services available at UCGNI and understands that treating Parkinson’s disease requires a multifaceted approach from a specialized team.”

The Power of Community and Support

In addition to Carole and his care team's support, Dave has found inspiration in the Cincinnati Parkinson’s community.

“Being involved in the life of the community has been most helpful to me,” he says. “It provides the opportunity to engage with people socially and learn from their experience and efforts to live well with PD.”

Living with Hope

Dave carries a piece of wisdom he once heard from another person living with a difficult disease through each stage of his journey.

He said, “‘I have faith that things will be okay even when I don’t know what okay looks like.’ That is just the way I feel as my journey with Parkinson’s continues.”