As she fights through Parkinson's, Margetan determined to help others

January 4, 2017

Sixteen years ago Kathy Margetan noticed some changes and knew in her gut that something just wasn’t right.

After two years and trips to various doctors, she received a diagnosis that changed her life: She had Parkinson’s disease at age 45. The way that she lived her life began to change from that moment on, and not by her own choice.

Margetan explained that she felt frustrated at first knowing that she was having symptoms and that it took so long to diagnose her illness.

“All of the symptoms that I had were vague so the doctor sent me to a rheumatologist because they thought that I had lupus, which is an autoimmune disease,” she said.

“It takes a long time to diagnose because there’s no blood test that can diagnose it.

She said that her symptoms included fatigue and walking off balance. Her handwriting became small; her muscles stiff. All of these are symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

She described the disease as very aggressive and one that can be treated with varying numbers of medication at once.

“Everyone’s different,” she said.

Margetan said she continued to work until 2006, at which point, she said, she just physically couldn’t anymore.

“I loved my job. I didn’t want to leave, but they knew that I was getting worse and they understood,” she said.

Margetan said that after quitting her job she began to suffer from depression, which is common amongst those with the disease, because of the change that occurred in her life.

“I loved my job and now I was home by myself five days a week and I couldn’t move,” she said.

In 2010 Margetan’s illness progressed so much that she had a surgical procedure called deep brain stimulation. This procedure uses a battery operated neurostimulator that helps to stimulate the brain to help ease symptoms of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s.

“If these batteries quit working, I’d quit working,” Margetan said, explaining that the device has allowed her to regain the functions of the right side of her body.

She added that she once again suffered difficulties after having the batteries replaced in the device.

“A year ago I couldn’t shower myself and I couldn’t have walked around this mall. I didn’t come here for probably about two years because I couldn’t get her,” she said during an interview in Richland Township at the Galleria’s food court. “I was spending about 17 to 18 hours a day in my wheelchair.”

Since then, Margetan made changes to her diet, began stretching and doing other various exercises, which she credits to helping her progress. She said that she can now walk small amounts and do other various things that she was not able to do a short time ago.

Margetan showed an Our Town reporter a photo in which she was visibly struggling to clap and then demonstrated for the reporter.

“I can do this with no effort now,” she said as she continued to show the reporter various stretches while standing that she said she could not do a year ago.

Having made strides with her illness, Margetan decided that she had wanted to not only give back, but tell others with neurological diseases that they do not have to be ashamed or let their illnesses hold them back. Margetan decided to organize a basket party that would benefit the Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania.

The basket party is scheduled for Sunday, April, 30 at the Solomon Run Fire Hall. According to Margetan, April was chosen because it is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Doors are to open at noon with the raffle beginning at 1:30 p.m. The event will be limited to 200 people.

Margetan said the response from people she knows and friends of friends who have already committed to creating baskets has been overwhelming. She said that she’s halfway to her goal of 100 baskets before even reaching out to businesses.

According to Margetan, the event is designed to not only to raise funds, but also awareness for neurological illnesses, caregivers and for those with the illnesses to show that it’s not a hopeless situation.

“I want people to know that you’re going to have bad days, but you’re going to have more good days if you have the right attitude,” she said.

If anyone is interested in tickets or donating to the benefit for the Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania, they can call Margetan at 814-269-3053.

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