Dave Trinder suffers from Parkinson's disease and is raising awareness about the condition after receiving abusive comments from the public
A PARKINSON’S disease sufferer from Cirencester has opened up about the abusive comments he receives on a daily basis, as people wrongly mistake him for being drunk.
Dave Trinder, who has lived with the condition for more than 12 years, says he is hoping to change people’s misconceptions of Parkinson’s, after growing frustrated of the hurtful comments.
The 60-year-old received pioneering deep brain stimulation surgery five years ago meaning he has full control of his hands and no longer suffers from tremors, but his feet often claw up and he struggles with walking and balance.
This has led to people mistaking his staggered walking for being drunk and in the past people have shouted comments such as ‘I’ll have a pint of what you’re on mate’ at him.
“I reply with ‘You wouldn’t want a pint of Parkinson’s would you?’”, said Dave.
“Once I say Parkinson’s people say they are sorry but probably everyone who makes these comments has got someone with dementia or a neurological illness in their family.
“Most days I go out the door someone says something to me or I get looks and sneers if I’m struggling with my walking.
“How would they feel if their family members were being ridiculed like that?
“It’s human nature, I understand and I’m not angry, I’m just annoyed.
"There’s no point in being angry, they are just being ignorant.”
Dave said the comments can come from anybody.
Often it is young men who are drunk themselves but two weeks ago he was walking along Cricklade Street when he heard a mother say to her young children, “Get away from him”.
Dave, whose nephew Henry plays for Gloucester rugby club, has organised fundraising events for Parkinson’s UK and in September his entertainment night at the Bingham Hall raised more than £9,000.
Earlier this week, Dave had his five year appraisal for the brain stimulation surgery.
In 2012, he was one of just 40 people in eight countries to participate in the trial.
“I’ve always referred to the operation as giving my life back, instead of being too scared to go outside.
"It’s is a degenerative illness and the last year has seen the biggest change.
"I’ll go downhill but I don’t know how quickly, a year ago I didn’t have a problem with my speech but sometimes now I can’t get the words out, that’s very frustrating.”
http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/15665783.Man_with_Parkinson_s_speaks_out_after_receiving_abusive_comments/
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