When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2007, my world changed in an instant.
Like so many others, I immediately began asking the questions we all ask after receiving life-changing news. What caused this? Could I have prevented it?
One thing stood out immediately: there was no family history of Parkinson’s disease.
No parents.
No grandparents.
No siblings.
No known relatives.
That didn’t answer the question—it only deepened the mystery.
Looking Beyond Genetics
For many years, Parkinson’s was often thought of as a disease that was primarily genetic. We now know that while genetics can play a role for some people, the majority of Parkinson’s cases are considered sporadic, meaning they occur without a clear inherited cause.
Researchers increasingly believe that Parkinson’s develops through a combination of genetics and environmental exposures. For many of us, the environment may play a much larger role than we once realized.
That realization raises important questions.
What have we been exposed to over a lifetime?
Pesticides.
Industrial chemicals.
Solvents.
Air pollution.
Contaminated water.
Heavy metals.
Scientists continue to study how long-term exposure to these and other environmental factors may increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. While research is ongoing and not every case has the same cause, the growing body of evidence suggests that our surroundings matter.
We Need to Pay Attention
This isn’t about creating fear.
It’s about creating awareness.
If environmental factors contribute to Parkinson’s disease, then we should be investing far more into understanding those risks, reducing harmful exposures where possible, and protecting future generations.
We cannot change yesterday.
But perhaps we can change tomorrow.
That means funding more research.
Supporting environmental health initiatives.
Helping identify communities at higher risk.
And continuing to ask difficult questions until we find better answers.
My Journey
Nearly twenty years after my diagnosis, I’ve lived through far more than I ever imagined.
Parkinson’s became only one chapter in a much larger health journey that has also included Myasthenia Gravis and many other unexpected challenges.
I’ve experienced seasons of strength and seasons of weakness.
There have been victories, setbacks, miracles, disappointments, and countless lessons along the way.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s this:
A diagnosis may change your life, but it does not define your life.
I am still here.
I still have purpose.
I still believe God is writing my story.
A Call for Hope and Action
As someone living with Parkinson’s, I hope that one day we won’t simply ask how to manage this disease—we’ll know how to prevent many cases before they ever begin.
That will require courageous research.
Honest conversations.
Environmental responsibility.
And a commitment to putting people ahead of convenience or profit.
My prayer is that future generations will benefit from the questions my generation has had to ask.
Until then, I’ll continue sharing my story.
Because every story matters.
Every patient matters.
Every family matters.
And every step we take toward understanding Parkinson’s disease brings us one step closer to hope.
“We may not know exactly why every person develops Parkinson’s disease, but we owe it to those living with it—and to those who come after us—to keep searching for answers. Hope grows wherever truth is pursued.” ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 