What’s wrong with you?

When people ask me about my health, wanting to know what’s wrong and why I walk with such difficulty – an easy simple answer does not spring to mind. Most people have not heard about Gaucher, being a rare disease with only approximately 10,000 reported cases worldwide. Parkinson’s, although without doubt far more common with an estimated 8-9 million sufferers in the world, is still misunderstood and the general conception that one should be old and shake at all times like a leaf on a tree. However there are approximately only 200 known patients with both diseases in the world - now that's a pretty small number! I never know whether to say Gaucher, to which I am normally met with a bemused expression and find I then have to explain, or to simply say Parkinson’s, which everyone has at least heard of, even though they may have a stereotypical picture in their mind to which I do not fit. If I'm in the mood for a lengthy discussion, then I say both diseases, which usually throws a person off guard, making them wish they could immediately retract their question. Sometimes an unsuspecting person can end up receiving a personal lecture, educating them about Gaucher and Parkinson’s disease. So beware when asking someone “how are you?” for you just might end up getting a lengthy lecture!