Peter’s Perspective:

Life with Parkinson’s hasn’t slowed me down—not in the ways that matter. I still wake up every morning with purpose, still garden, still walk my granddaughters to school, and still get lost for hours at my local hardware store dreaming up my next home project. I worked in marketing and sales for 20 years, but my true love has always been fixing things. Power tools, and renovations—I thrive on the satisfaction of a job well done.

I was born in Italy, and I just embarked on a month-long trip there with my wife, Aurora. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and Parkinson’s didn’t stop me. I have a choice every day: focus on the condition or focus on life. I choose life.

Looking back, my first symptoms weren’t obvious. I struggled to find words or finish sentences. My right arm started dragging when I walked. My wife noticed before I did. Then there were the digestive issues—ten years of unexplained problems, special diets, and frustration. It wasn’t until I was nearly 70 that a doctor finally took our concerns seriously. Three visits, three separate times we brought it up before I was referred to a neurologist. When I was finally diagnosed, I wasn’t shocked—I was just ready to move forward.

My neurologist gave me the best advice: “Don’t hold back. Do everything you want to do.” So, I don’t hold back. I play pickleball, I travel, I stay active. Sure, I get tired, and sometimes the symptoms creep in. But I won’t let Parkinson’s keep me down. My grandkids don’t see me as a man with a disease—they just see their Nonno, walking them to school every morning. And that’s exactly how I want it to be.

Aurora’s Perspective:

Being Peter’s wife and care partner is a role I embrace with love and determination. I saw the signs before he did—his arm, his speech, the slowing of his movements. He brushed it off at first, making jokes about his “trembling mouse finger.” But as the symptoms became impossible to ignore, I knew I had to step in.

Getting a diagnosis wasn’t easy. The first time we mentioned his speech changes, the doctor dismissed it as aging. The second time, nothing. It wasn’t until the third visit that we finally got a referral. Then came the long wait for a neurologist—nine months of uncertainty. When we finally saw the specialist, everything made sense. Parkinson’s. It wasn’t the news we wanted, but at least we had an answer.

The journey hasn’t been easy, but we are not helpless. Peter takes his medication, we stay active, and we focus on the things we can control. We still go on long walks, still garden, still laugh. We refuse to let Parkinson’s take away the joy of living. We’re making memories, not excuses.

Parkinson’s is part of our story, but it’s not the whole story. We choose to live, to love, and to keep moving forward—together.