Parkinson’s effect on our children

How does suffering from Parkinson’s affect one’s children? This is a question I have been asked many times. My personal situation is a little unusual, since I was born with Gaucher, a chronic disease; therefore my daughter has never seen me as a healthy person. She grew up not knowing anything else, so when I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 44, although certainly upsetting, she obviously took it differently from a child whose parent has always been healthy. However, when Parkinson’s hits someone who has been healthy and led a normal life until diagnosis, the shock, realization and changes that have to be made in the family are a tremendous challenge and can be received with reluctance and conflict. For a child to understand that things are never going to quite the same at home again must without doubt be a scary and unsettling thought. Keeping children in the picture and up to date with what is happening is very important. Children are far smarter than we give them credit for, and retaining information from them is counter-productive. As much as a child may end up helping in the home, they should not be robbed of their ‘childhood’ and participation in extracurricular activities, should be encouraged. The additional worry that a child may encounter is “will I also get Parkinson’s?” This is only natural and a very valid question. Unfortunately there is no clear answer to this question for now, but the likelihood is pretty low. There is so much research going on all around the world, it’s only a matter of time before our questions are answered, and a cure is found.