Kristine Viegas tries to support her husband, Tony, in any way she can as he manages Parkinson’s disease with medication.
“My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at an early age,” said Viegas. “When he was diagnosed, I wanted to help, volunteer, and learn how to better my family. We have a young family. I ended up volunteering and running the Superwalk.”
Registration is open for the Newmarket Parkinson Canada SuperWalk at Fairy Lake Park on Sept. 7, drawing supporters from across the area. She has a goal to raise $40,000, the same amount raised in 2023. At this time, more than $8,458.75 has been raised by 29 participants and six teams.
You can register online or on the day of the event beginning at 9:45 a.m., followed by the opening ceremonies at 10:45, the superwalk at 11:30 a.m., and closing ceremonies at 12:30 p.m. Viegas and her family live in Bradford but the Newmarket event is the closest one to their home.
“It’s a very progressive disease,” said Viegas. “Some people progress quickly and some remain stable. Everyone’s symptoms can be different.”
“Right now, he remains in a pretty stable life being able to work and help out with the family, but there are some challenges,” said Viegas of her husband. “He tremors. That can be a nuisance for him. His Parkinson’s affects his right side of the body and he is right-hand dominant. Writing is more difficult. Even sometimes walking can be a little bit of an issue although, for the most part, he is still doing well.”
Funds raised go to Parkinson’s Canada towards research, support tools, and advocacy for people living with the disease.
Movement is controlled by dopamine, a chemical that carries signals between the nerves in the brain. When cells that normally produce dopamine die, the symptoms of Parkinson’s appear.
“There’s a lot of dopamine in the brain but with Parkinson’s, you don’t get a lot of dopamine,” said Viegas. “You can tell. He gets tired. Sometimes his speech is affected. It’s different for everybody and thankfully right now he remains stable on medication.”
Viegas has spent time with families who have loved ones with Parkinson’s. She said some people are unable to drive and work, requiring more support at home.
“Most people I know right now are able to eat by themselves, but getting dressed requires some difficulty, and day-to-day tasks can be difficult living with Parkinson’s,” said Viegas.
Tony’s visits with his neurologist are covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan. Additional services, however, are costly. Parkinson’s Canada states Parkinson’s has the third highest direct health-care costs annually at more than $120.3 million. People living with Parkinson’s disease have the highest rate of prescription drug use compared to other neurological conditions.
“There are not a lot of programs and financial support when it comes to people living with Parkinson’s,” said Viegas. “Maybe there would be certain classes that would be beneficial, such as chair yoga, any sitting exercise, or even speech therapy. All of those require money and it is out of pocket. It is a struggle for people living with Parkinson’s. You have to pay for everything. There is not a lot of support to receive. Everything is out of pocket besides a neurologist.”
Her husband has benefits through his work that cover the cost of some treatment.
According to Parkinson’s Canada, Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the movement of the body. Currently, there is no cure, but many people can live with the disease for years and treat the symptoms with medication. Symptoms of the disease include tremors, slowness and stiffness.
Each day in Canada, more than 10 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s. It’s estimated that by 2031, the number of people diagnosed with the disease is expected to double to more than 163,700.
To learn more about Parkinson’s disease, visit www.https://www.parkinson.ca/
