I was asked by my father-in-law, Teo Kim Hoo, to contribute an article to a book, dedicated to his struggles and fight against Parkinson’s Disease, a slow and degenerative disease that had plagued him for the past 3 years. I am more than happy to share my thoughts about this amazing person, on his determination and passion to overcome the effects of this disease.
My first encounter with Parkinson’s Disease came in 1985, when my grandmother, was diagnosed with it. I remember how her movements were slowly impaired, how she slowly lost her appetite to eat, how she eventually became bed-ridden, and more importantly, how she finally lost her zest to live her life. My impression of Parkinson’s Disease is that it not only attacks your ability to move, but patients also lose their agility, their sense of balance and their mental state of mind. I soon came to learn that sufferers of Parkinson’s Disease usually feels depressed, preferring to wallow in self-pity. Apathy is also a trademark of patients of Parkinson’s Disease. They will generally refuse medication and treatment offered. That was my general view and understanding of patients suffering from Parkinson’s Disease…..until my father-in-law came along.
Right from the moment that he was diagnosed with the disease, he took all relevant issues by the horns and dealt with them with vigour. Rather than wallowing in self-pity, he launches himself into research on all aspects of the disease. He not only seeks advice and opinions from his doctors, but also surfs the net for articles and write ups on Parkinson’s Disease. Over a short span of time, I am proud to say, that he has amassed quite a comprehensive understanding of the nature of the disease, and its effects on a person’s mind and body. Not satisfied with only the knowledge gained in respect of the disease and its effects, he even went further to research on the different medication prescribed for patients of the disease, and the side effects such medication brings to the patients. Whenever he feels uncomfortable or “different”, he would immediately ask for his doctor’s advice, and thereafter, follow up with a slew of research on the internet. Suffice for me to say that most of the time, he could link the side effects to the medication he had taken. Armed with such knowledge, he will normally request for other medication to counter the side effect, if available. He took me aside one day, and told me that certain medication causes patients to suffer from low blood pressure, particularly when the patient has been sitting down for quite some time. He requested for, and obtain medication to increase his blood pressure, to offset the effect of fainting spells caused by low blood pressure. Here is one person who is not only interested in overcoming the disease, but also on how to improve the quality of life of those on medication for the disease.
If his efforts in acquiring knowledge of the disease and its medication is astounding, what he does on the physical side is nothing short of unbelievable. My father-in-law took up a strict fitness regime to help arrest the advance of his movement disorder, brought about by the disease. His passion and determination is astounding as he puts in approximately 2 to 3 hours of physical activity daily, for six days in a week, under the supervision of a professional trainer. His exercise regime not only consists of cardio activities like running/jogging on the treadmill and riding the bicycle, but also includes stretching and balancing exercises like yoga and pilates, and strength training exercises. Apart from his strict exercise regime, he will sometimes join in group exercise classes for fun. He does kick boxing classes and also spinning classes (a cardio class, based on the use of a racing bicycle. As a result of his efforts, he definitely appears to have no signs of the movement impeding disease he is suffering from. I myself am very active in the gym, and I attend group exercise classes (with some very strenuous ones) very frequently. I have exercised with him before, and everyone of my friends at the gym could not believe that he is nearly 70 years old, let alone, a patient of Parkinson’s Disease. How many 70 year olds out there will actively take part in a kick boxing class? Not to mention one who has been diagnosed with the disease? I think not many. Not even those who are younger than him. He has been doing his exercises faithfully for the past 3 years since the day he was diagnosed with the disease, and there is no sign of him slowing down at all. All this needs effort and determination. It doesn’t come easy at all. Credit must definitely be given to him for being able to fight the general feeling of apathy normally associated with patients of the disease, and launch himself into physical activity, to his benefit.
The energy of this man doesn’t just stop there. I think the most amazing thing demonstrated by my father-in-law, is his passion, and his heart, in sharing his experience with other people. He wants people who are in the same predicament with him to be aware of the disease and how it affects their body, their movement, their state of mind, the medication involved, the various side effects that comes together with the medication, and most of all, how to fight and arrest the advancement of the disease. His greatest gift to the public is his blog, “Chronicles of a PD Fighter”. You can access his blog at movementdisorder.blogspot.com. He writes about his experience as a “fighter” of the disease, and gives a very detailed description about the symptoms of the disease, the causes, the medication involved and all other aspects in respect thereof. He also provide links to useful sites related to the disease, and also all the articles he had researched on. This goes to show how self-less this man can be, as far as educating the public on this disease is concerned. I am sure the public can benefit from his blog so that a greater understanding can be achieved on Parkinson’s Disease.
My father-in-law is definitely not your so called run-of-the-mill patient diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. In fact he doesn’t even look like a patient at all. His glow, and zest for life is attributed to his determination, and passion, in not only overcoming the disease, but also in educating the public, particularly those who are in the same predicament as him, on all aspects of the disease. I think this is very noble of him. It shows how selfless he is in his “quest” to increase the awareness of the public on the disease. And if anybody thinks that he is just a flash in the pan, and his interests will wane over the years, think twice. Unlike a lot of cases of waning interests, or as what the popular Malay phrase goes, “Hangat hangat tahi ayam”, my father in law’s interests in the disease certainly seems to be growing by the day. Continue with your good work, Daddy. I am soooooooo proud of you!!!
Richard Foo
Yes, these articles are definitely very encouraging & they will add spice to your book. It will be a source of inspiration to other PD patients to follow in your footsteps
Hooi Hoon
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