Our Parkinson's Place: Man with Parkinson's Disease uses these props to spread awareness

I HAVE PARKINSON'S DISEASES AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE THE CONTENTS OF UPDATED NEWS IS FOUND IN ONE PLACE. THAT IS WHY I BEGAN THIS BLOG.

I COPY NEWS ARTICLES PERTAINING TO RESEARCH, NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE, DEMENTIA, THE BRAIN, DEPRESSION AND PARKINSON'S WITH DYSTONIA. I ALSO POST ABOUT FUNDRAISING FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND EVENTS. I TRY TO BE UP-TO-DATE AS POSSIBLE.

I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT'S CONTENTS. I AM JUST A COPIER OF INFORMATION SEARCHED ON THE COMPUTER. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THE COPIES ARE JUST THAT, COPIES AND AT TIMES, I AM UNABLE TO ENLARGE THE WORDING OR KEEP IT UNIFORMED AS I WISH. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND I AM A PERSON WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE. I HAVE NO MEDICAL EDUCATION,

I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET. IT IS UP TO YOU TO DECIDE WHETHER TO READ IT AND TALK IT OVER WITH YOUR DOCTOR. I AM JUST THE COPIER OF DOCUMENTS FROM THE COMPUTER. I DO NOT HAVE PROOF OF FACT OR FICTION OF THE ARTICLE. I ALSO TRY TO PLACE A LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH ARTICLE TO SHOW WHERE I RECEIVED THE INFORMATION SO THAT YOU MAY WANT TO VISIT THEIR SITE.

THIS IS FOR YOU TO READ AND TO ALWAYS KEEP AN OPEN MIND.

PLEASE DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR DOCTOR, SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OR CONCERNS. NEVER DO ANYTHING WITHOUT TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR FIRST..

I DO NOT MAKE ANY MONEY FROM THIS WEBSITE. I VOLUNTEER MY TIME TO HELP ALL OF US TO BE INFORMED.

I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY ADVERTISEMENT OR HEALING POWERS, HEALING FROM HERBS AND ETC. UNLESS IT HAS GONE THROUGH TRIALS AND APPROVED BY FDA. IT WILL GO INTO SPAM.

THIS IS A FREE SITE FOR ALL WITH NO ADVERTISEMENTS

THANK YOU FOR VISITING! TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Friday, March 23, 2018

Man with Parkinson's Disease uses these props to spread awareness

March 22, 2018

CORNING, N.Y. (18 NEWS) - Bob Russell was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2005. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder where the part of the brain that controls movement is affected.

He struggled with symptoms for the next six years on the job which involved sound, lights, and sets.

"I took my headsets off and put them on the deck and just put my head in my hands and said, 'I can't do this anymore.'" Russell said. "And that's it. I never went back to work."

The former stage manager loved the job so much, he thought he was going to work until he was 75, but eight surgeries later (two of those being brain surgeries because of the disorder), he says fate had different plans for him.

The Corning native who now lives in Niagara County takes up to eight different types of medication a day to control his symptoms. The pills are spanned out every two and a half hours, so he has alarm after alarm set on his phone.

Despite the inconvenience, he uses his experience to spread awareness to local students with encouragement from his wife.

"I love my wife dearly," Russell said. "She's been my best caregiver."

In addition to a presentation explaining what Parkinson's is, Russell brings along props to demonstrate and gets a kick out of the students trying to complete the tasks.

The first prop includes wearing one boot with a three-pound weight to exemplify abnormal walking or posture.

Another demonstration includes putting on winter gloves, then trying to open a pill bottle filled with tic tacs, and pouring out one color of each.

Lastly, students put Marshmallows in their mouth and try to say the alphabet to demonstrate slurred speech.

"The humor is the best thing to have when you have a terminal illness with no cure," Russell said. "You have to laugh at yourself and call yourself Parkys and say you're feeling a little Parky today."