Els: ‘Fighting Parkinson’s is meaningless, but boxing is’

What song would you like to play on your farewell?

“Wake up Van Lisa Gerard.”

Why this particular number?

“I can’t explain it. It’s a feeling. I feel a kind of spiritual recognition about what we’re all messing with here on Earth. Plus a longing for the source. Some call it God, others call it God and for my husband. And I – we both live spiritually – it’s about where we came from.” “From which I can come back soon. Feels so good.”

What does it say about your life?

“My husband and I are clear and articulate. Sometimes I receive letters from dead people and I can then pass them on. Once a month we organize a spiritual evening where we meditate with others and draw tarot cards, but we are not mysterious.

We have known each other for five years and I immediately realized that this was right. Within two days I was living with him. I live completely on trust, so things are going well. His name is Kees and I always call him my manager Kees, because he’s been there for me since I got Parkinson’s. When I look to the left, I no longer know where I am to the right, so I always have to take someone with me when I go out. I can’t go out in the evening anyway, because I’ve become completely night blind.

Fortunately, Kiss is there for me. In my own treatment and in my mission to teach people how to deal with this brain disease. I’ve been receiving complaints for ten years without even knowing it. At the moment jerk In the beginning, I had already lost 70 percent of my dopamine. Because that’s what Parkinson’s does. Brain cells in the soft part of your brain die, so they no longer produce dopamine, the substance that ensures different neurons can communicate with each other.

“I got it from peeling bulbs when I was young. And from agricultural poison. The generation after me is more exposed to harmful substances and air pollution, so the number of Parkinson’s patients will increase. I find that sad.”

I teach clinical classes in nursing homes to teach nurses how to manage patients with Parkinson’s disease. For example, medication administration is very precise. You need to get a dose of dopamine at specific times to be able to function, but this is not always taken into account in overcrowded healthcare. If the medication wears off and it takes too long for the next dose to arrive, you’re stuck. If someone comes to dress you properly, you won’t be able to do anything and that’s not good for anyone. It takes an hour before dopamine works again and the patient can move again. There is no cure, only regression. Therefore I think it is very important to pass on this knowledge, because it can prevent a lot of frustration for everyone if the treatment goes well.

I already knew I would develop Parkinson’s disease many years ago. I didn’t notice it at the time, but the moment the tremors started I felt: Oh yes. I find it annoying, of course, but I’m not angry or sad. I’m used to living in the here and now. There’s no point in fighting it, because you can’t do anything about it anyway. Stress makes complaints worse. Exercise helps, which is why I box for Parkinson’s disease. Yes, this exists. We face each other and deal with hooks and straight right hands. Boxing is also an exercise for your mind.”

What do you dream of?

“My mission is rooted in the community. Of course I hope a cure for Parkinson’s is found. I don’t have big dreams for myself. I live day by day and pick up gems every time.”

What is k Guilty pleasure?

“I just baked a butter cake. It’s a delicious way to continue training my flexibility but also cute Guilty pleasure“.

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