Living with Parkinson’s Disease!

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Welcome to Parking Suns – A Life with Parkinson’s Disease!

My name is Bruce Ballard.  I am 70 years old and a recently retired Professional Development Specialist at the Bronx Charter School for Better Learning.  I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in 2012, although I’d been living with the symptoms for a few years before that.

I started this blog in February, 2015, after reading an article on the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Facebook page.  The Fox web article (which, coincidentally, was published on Feb. 6, my birthday) included this sentence:  “Research suggests that writing, and editing, our own stories may help reduce stress and boost health.”

After I started this blog, I became enthusiastic about the positive role that “enriched environment” can play in the lives of people with PD.  So my blog aims to provide just that, focusing to a great extent on writing (including poetry), physical exercise, nutrition, art, music, humor, and research.

So click around and let me know what you think!  You can leave a message in the comments section below, or at the bottom of any blog post or other page.

A little more about me:

Although I was born in New York City, much of my life has been international.  May I check off the countries?

  • Mexico:  attended high school for three years in Mexico City.  ¡Olé!
  • The Netherlands:  worked in Amsterdam as a summer intern while in college.
  • Kenya:  served two months as a volunteer on a village project to build a maternity ward.  Best coffee ever.
  • South Korea:  taught English and trained teachers for five years, three of them as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
  • Japan:  directed a university Intensive English Program for three years in Japan’s snow country.
  • Canada:  competed in the 1990 Gay Games.  Didn’t win any races but came home with some swell T-shirts.
  • Mongolia:  directed a Peace Corps pre-service training program for four months.
  • The Marshall Islands:  same as Mongolia, only warmer weather.
  • Singapore, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, France:  took many business trips to these countries to teach corporate writing courses, train teachers, and teach languages.
  • Tanzania:  climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro shortly after my 50th birthday.
  • Spain, the Philippines, Macau, Costa Rica, Australia, England, Indonesia:  strictly vacations.
  • Paris, France:  competed in the 2018 Gay Games (swimming).  Came home with a bronze medal and a silver.

I’ve devoted most of my professional life to studying and practicing the pedagogy known as “The Subordination of Teaching to Learning,” developed by an Egyptian mathematician named Caleb Gattegno (1911-1988).  Gattegno invented astounding techniques and materials for teaching math, second languages, and first language literacy.  I first met his approach as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South Korea, then I worked for Gattegno when I moved to New York.  My charter school was set up by some of his other colleagues to further his work.  To learn more about our school, click here.  I’ve also written posts on this blog about my school, which you can read by clicking here.

Two more items:  I’m married.  And my husband and I have two cats.

48 thoughts on “Living with Parkinson’s Disease!”

    1. bruce.ballard2010@gmail.com

      Thanks for visiting my website, Paula. It’s always a pleasure to see/hear from you. – Bruce

    1. bruce.ballard2010@gmail.com

      Hey Henry – Thanks for dropping by. It’s great to have your support. Hope to see you again here or on FB! – Bruce

  1. Arthur B. Powell

    This is indeed a wonderful idea. I’ll check in from time to time to know what going on for you. You have my best wishes and support.

    ~ Arthur

    1. bruce.ballard2010@gmail.com

      Hi Arthur – Looking forward to seeing you here and at school. Thanks for dropping by. – Bruce

  2. Barb Spedale Hungerford

    Prayers! Chronic illness is such a bummer! I have a daughter with Lupus (systemic and skin) which also accompanies other tag a long illnesses (sjorgrens, chronic fatigue, joint pains etc etc) and my granddaughter was recently diagnosed with dermatomyositis (she is 10 years old and a very active competitive dancer)…BUT the key is “LIVING” with any illness…we all must make the best of the cards that were dealt…

    1. bruce.ballard2010@gmail.com

      Hi CRaig! I visited your site. It’s very impressive – you touch on so many topics. Hope to see you again – Bruce

  3. I was diagnosed with PD at 51 years old. I am by profession a Registered Nurse specializing in Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant. At the age of 55 I had to go out oh disability giving up a career I loved.
    Thank you for starting this blog. Best wishes.

    1. bruce.ballard2010@gmail.com

      Thanks for visiting, Sherry, and for the comment. I hope you are still enjoying life, even though you had to stop working. Please come back again. It’s nice having you on board.

      – Bruce

  4. Hi Bruce, Congratulations on the blog! We can all learn together. I look forward to reading your posts.

  5. Dear Bruce – And here I thought that crepuscular (and twilight as well) only referred to that dim period in the evening after the sun sets. Little did I suspect that it also applied to that dim period before the sun rises in the morning. I also didn’t know that my cat had purpose….. just thought that she was randomly annoying when I wanted to sleep!!!

    My father has Parkinsons. I’m a big fan of physical therapy, having had it help me with some range of movement issues. After many years of dealing with his PD (he’s now 92), he finally went for his first session with a physical therapist just last week and — lo and behold, much to his surprise — the professionals had something beneficial to offer him. He’s quite please with the advice and exercises they recommended. He’s also doing Chi-Gong at home (with my mother who is 87) and says that it helps him with the Parkinsons. (Chi-Gong and Tai Chi are recommended by the National Parkinson Foundation.)

  6. Bruce- What a wonderful idea. I look forward to reading about your thoughts and experiences. You have always been a person with great communication (and people) skills. Buena suerte, mi amigo.

  7. Jennifer Schwarz

    Hi Bruce – Your blog is wonderful! Thank you for this glimpse into your world! I really enjoyed myself looking around and will definitely be stopping by again!
    – Jen 🙂

  8. Beverly Tredray

    Hi Bruce
    Having a fairly recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease (Sept. 2014), I am still coming to grips with its impact on my life now and in the future. I sincerely appreciate the positive and encouraging tone of your blog, as the first comment I saw on the page of another “support” group was “This group is a bunch of whiners!” I quickly logged off and have cautiously been looking for positive people to follow on this new path. Thanks!!

    1. bruce.ballard2010@gmail.com

      Hi Beverly,
      Thanks for the nice note and the kind words. The thing with Parkinson’s disease is that (1) everyone travels a different path. Some people are hardly inconvenienced while others progress more quickly to where the difficulties are severe; and (2) the future is not so bad if you’re recently diagnosed, because there are so many treatment options. If you look around you can find many affirmative role models – Parkies who still run marathons, dance, write novels, etc. They’re the ones whom I seek out.
      Thanks again for your comments! Please visit often!
      Best wishes, Bruce

  9. Bruce, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog. I have had PD for approx 12 years. Continue your great work. It does help others and that is what it is all about. Take care!!

  10. Ines Figueiredo

    My husband’s PD keeps me company and makes me look around and travel the internet. That’s how I learned about your book . I’m going to read it soon. This blog is wonderful. Congratulations!

  11. Great Daily Writing Prompt: “Painting is poetry that is seen post, in a similar regard please read this article I came across today parkingsuns.com or Adrian . Thank you for sharing. [poetry writing websites]

  12. Hey, fellow PD advocate and blogger here,

    Below is a link to my latest blog entry about the future of PD therapies, thought you might be interested in taking a look.

    https://tmrwedition.com/2017/03/23/the-future-of-parkinsons-disease-therapies/

    I have recently started collaborating with a number of research labs that are working towards bringing to practice some of the therapies mentioned in that article with the goal of one day bringing an end to this disease.

    I hope that my article might inspire people to keep fighting knowing that there are so many new and exciting therapies coming soon. Feel free to share that information with anyone who you think might benefit from it.

    Looking forward to what the future has in store,
    Benjamin Stecher
    tmrwedition.com

  13. Hi Bruce,
    Just wanted to comment on what an awesome career you’ve had in service to others around the world. Congratulations and thank you for all you’ve contributed. I’m 62 and have been dealing with PD for 10 years. I’ve found that writing is the best way for me to stay positive and exercise the brain (and heart). Also, like you, physical exercise, nutrition, art, music, humor, and research are my medicines. Cheers, Catherine

  14. Bruce W. Ballard

    I like your website; thanks for putting it up.. I am also named Bruce Ballard. I was diagnosed with PD in 2006 and had dbs surgery in 2012.

  15. Hi Bruce!

    Everyday Health is doing a roundup of the “best Parkinson’s blogs of 2018” and after coming across Parking Suns, we would love to feature you on our site! 

    What we need from you: A hi-res picture of your logo (or a head shot of you that represents your blog if you don’t have one)

    You can send the photo back to me. Once I’ve received it, the rest will be in the works and I’ll let you know when the post is up. 

    Congratulations on making such a wonderful site, and we look forward to featuring you!

  16. Bruce,
    I came across your blog while looking for any information on LGBT Parkinson’s people and your site popped up. I have enjoyed reading your posts about the health disparities-which was what I was looking for as I prepare a presentation for social workers on PD and one of the topics was health disparities among race, gender and LGBT. I was surprised to find NO medical journal articles addressing this, and only found your blog, the NY Times article you referenced and one other social networking site with ONE entry from a MTF person posting looking for support over a year ago. I appreciate your candor in your post. I was at the Portland WPC and hope to join the Japan one. I run an outreach program in Florida and I have a mother with PD.

  17. Newly diagnosed with PD on 5/7/18 and finding my way around the PD community. Thank you for establishing your site. There is always strength in numbers and I am finding many PD resources so I can become my own expert in PD management and connect with other PD people.

  18. I was reading some poetry this morning to soothe my soul. Your Blog caught my attention as I read the amazing poem written by a 4th Grader. But your domain nameParking Suns capitavated my attention. I pray your continued growth and holistic healing approach.

    Your blog was a beautiful confirmation that I was learning to embrace living beyond my physical…..just as the “Most High” has guided me!
    I have not been diagnosed with Parkinson’s but I have been a suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis since the age of 23 years old. I was told at 23 years old, I may never walk again and should apply for SSD. Well, I listened and prayed without ceasing. Long story short by Faith, with Love plus Family support I NOT only walked but learned to run again with my then 3 year old son by his 4th birthday. I was able to maintain my physical strength through physical therapy, diet and Writing poetry which I embraced at the age of 10 years old. To help deal with my abandonment issues and trust issues, from my father NOT being in my life consistently. Well I have been blessed beyond measure at 46 years old. I have 2 amazing children 25 and 15, a loving plus supportive husband of almost 19 years, 2 beautiful Gran Gift’s. Plus I am blessed to have a beautiful relationship with my 25 year sober father and my adoring mother. But at 40 life took another turn, my Rheumatoid Arthritis was causing me to live life for weeks as a quadriplegic. Even a strict diet and exercise DID NOT prevent my chronic debilitating flare ups. Which is when I learned after neurological test that I also suffered from Fibromyalgia. I fought to maintain my career until 2015 as a Medical Imaging Technologist. But my flare ups were occurring more often than not, which caused me to realize I could not continue life at that pace and expect to have a vibrant quality of life. So through physical therapy, psychological therapy, holistic approaches Faith and Family. I am learning to live beyond my physical and learning to appreciate my life even on the days I am literally forced to “Be Still” by investing in Youth Civic Engagement through service-learning plus real life experiences. My husband and I have been volunteers, mentors and advocates for youth in our community for approximately 20 years. We realized 2 years ago that we were working with Non profit organizations that were getting funded but the funding was not going truly to make an impact with youth to better their present lives or future dreams. So my husband and I invested in our vision I AM…..B.R.D.,LLC Community Public Relations Consultants last year. We are still building and it has been a monetary sacrifice but it is important. We have been using Social media to engage the youth and community members on the days I am forced to “Be Still”

    We are trying to be financially responsible to balance our living expenses plus family and because my husband is more of a traditional family man…which I love. Somedays, he makes me question if the monetary sacrifices are worth it. Which means I know he loves me but he does not understand that all my life I have learned to overcome my mind, body and spiritual challenges through writing, nurturing family support and education plus communication. So I am a true reflection of our company brand I Am B.orn R.aised and D.estined beyond my birth circumstances or societal statistics and I believe every human being is a “Bright Light” and they need to be encouraged to SHINE NO MATTER WHAT!

    So thank you for being a true inspiration on today, and being the source of Vitamin D that I needed desperately……because today my husband doubt in our business investment caused my Light to go dim. But the poem shared and your testimony shared, has restored my strength to endure beyond all obstacles.

    Thank you,

    Alicia

  19. Bruce,
    Up until today I only had two people who I felt were truly “Parkinson’s Warriors”. You are now being added to my list! You have made my day. You have blown me away! I do not have Parkinson’s, the love of my life does. Ten years ago I had no idea how I would be picked up and throw into the Parkinson’s world. Yet some of the greatest things to of happened in my life are centered around Parkinson’s. To find Hero’s such as you, Tim Hague Sr, and Ian Rodriquez have given my life a different perspective. Life has given me a passion the not help, but to make sure the world sees Parkinson’s for what it is in order to better help those with Parkinson’s

    I know I will be tagging along behind you picking up little gems of insights to share with others. Thank you for all you do! I am looking forward to learning from you. ~ kelley

  20. I found your blog, searching for some info that I could use to inform one of my patients about Parkings Disease.I am a pediatric specialty needs nurse,who converse’s with geriatric clients as well.

  21. Hi Bruce, My name is Rob Farr. I was happy to find your website via SmartPatients website. Thank you for sharing your story and expertise. I am finding alot of very useful information. I recently got a VR headset for ping pong 🙂 I live in Alexandria VA with husband of 20 years.

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