I have had Parkinson's for 17 years now. I was diagnosed in Halifax at the age of 35. My husband and I didn't know very much about this debilitating disease, but we DID know it wasn't good. My husband was encouraged to leave the Navy and find a job close to home, as in the future I will need less stress and more help with our three boys.

We decided to move close to family. The support was wonderful, as I knew it would be. For many years I did well. No one knew I had Parkinson's until the tremors started getting worse and hiding it was getting too hard. My church family are all encouraging, but until you live with this slow-moving, debilitating, sometimes embarrassing disease, you truly don't get it.

My movement got progressively slower and the pills were increasing. I was getting more discouraged by the day that I couldn't count on the medication 'working' when I wanted it to. Finally, after many trials and tribulations, I was put on the list to have Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery.

About three weeks ago, I had my left side done. I wasn't hooked up to the 'battery pack' yet, as the neurologist wanted to operate on the opposite side of my brain and then connect both sides to the battery pack at one time. He felt he had better results doing it this way, when a person has Parkinson's on both sides.

Well, this is Friday the 13th of April and I go in for my second surgery on Monday. It's an ordeal, but the light at the end of the tunnel will be worth it! Quality of life is more important to me than quantity. My boys will have their mother back; my husband will have the person he married back.

Although I kept a humorous outlook and made life for my family as normal as could be, I want my life back, and because of wonderful science funded by donations, I am getting closer and closer to the 'light at the end of the tunnel'. Sure, there were hard times, but life is what you make it. I was dealt the hand I was given, and I AM dealing with it. One day at a time, one success at a time, until there's a cure. Right now, with the help of God guiding the surgeon's hands, I will have quality of life again!

Cindy Smith, April 13, 2012