Who am i?

my Mission

To increase the awareness of Pre-Parkinson’s disease while there is still time to reverse the disease before one suffers permanent damage

Early identification is key to treating this disease.  By just asking the right questions during routine visits or online questionnaire, we can identity those at risk. Once identified, potential causes addresses and therapies can be implemented in an effort to slow, stop or reverse the disorder.  To date the medical community has not delivered any such hope and it is my mission to search the world, work with top researchers and collaborate with other like souls in an effort to find the cause and therapies that work.  Join my mission and help us all stop Parkinson’s Disease before it can even be diagnosed!

An Extraordinary Experience

I am definitely not what one may perceive as a typical Pre-Parkinson’s patient, but I ask just who is a typical Pre-Parkinson’s patient?  From my experience, it can be anyone.  I am 57 years old and love to run.  This year I have expanded my running to include ultra distance marathons and loving it.  I eat the right foods, exercise, sleep, rest, meditate, and fast.

By the book, I did it all yet I still have been diagnosed with Pre-Parkinson’s.  Yes, some times there are factors beyond your control that will effect you for the rest of your life on planet earth.

My Core Values

I try to keep it really simple in order to keep everyday on a positive note.

  • I love Jesus
  • I believe the body is self healing, self regulating and self regenerating
  • With God's help, all things are possible

how it all started

It all started when my wife yelled at me in the middle of the night because I was hitting her on the back. As a nursing student and follower of good sleep hygiene, I knew something was wrong.  Science says during REM sleep we are to be paralyzed and it appears I was not.  After a short time on google I was certain that I suffered from a rare sleep disorder called REM Sleep Behavior Disorder or iRBD for short.  The “i” standing for idiopathic meaning the medical community has no clue as to what causes it.  Here I was with this rare sleep disorder and no clue where to start. 

 

I called and made an appointment to see my doctor and tell her what I have diagnosed.  To my surprise, she had never heard of the disorder and was a bit sceptable.  After sharing with her the questionaire and the fact that I scored 12 out of 13, she ordered and overnight sleep study at Keck Medical Center in Los Angeles. During that one night stay, the study did detect a dream enactment eventhough I was not having them on a nightly basis.  It was at this time my doctor and the experts at the University of Southern California were able to diagnose me with RBD.  

 The experts at USC were of very little help as they were quick to advise there are no known treatments for my condition.  They also went on to say that the disorder is a probable precursor to Parkinson’s Disease.  I asked the experts why and they told me they had no idea. A feeling of  concern came over me as I could see there was not much drive to find our the real why.  I knew at this moment it would be up to me to find a therapy to remediate my Pre-Parkinson’s conditions in order to fight off fully diagnoisable Parkinson’s Disease or what is non-reversable motor damage. I have been on this mission for the past 12 months in addition to moving cross country, full time student and part time Executive Director of a free clinic in Florida.     

I created this website for two reasons:  

  1. Share the research I find regarding Pre-Parkinson’s Disease so others around the world can benefit from this information.

  2. Share real time what I am doing in regards to therapies, tests, and treatments in my effort to stop or reverse the progression of Pre-Parkinson’s disease.  I will be upfront about everything in order to help others learn faster.