Hi, everyone! My name is Rabbi Zee. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease [PD] in 2015. When I asked the neurologist who proclaimed the “verdict” whether or not he could be wrong, he responded: “There are two things that you need to know about me: (1) I am never wrong, and (2) I am very humble!”

Now bear in mind that I had never heard about this disease before in my life – nor did I know anyone who had it. 

Of course the first thing I did when I got home was to Google the disease to see if it was fatal. Thank G-d it’s not… although it’s definitely not a walk in the park – as there are some potentially serious complications that come along with the disease.

I decided to get a second opinion (always a good idea) so I went to one of the “top” neurologists in town, and needless to say, I was less than impressed. The doctor offered no guidance as to what, if anything, I could do to stop the inevitable neurodegenerative decline of the disease (although I learned later on that there are many things that one can do – including vigorous exercise, supplements, change of diet, as well as many other alternative, nonconventional  treatments – that have significant impact on health.)

All the doctor could offer was that the traditional medicine that is most often prescribed to deal with the symptoms of PD – LevaDopa – will inevitably cause dyskinesias, or rapid uncontrolled movements of the body, after which time it might be wise down the line to consider “Deep Brain Stimulation” surgery to get rid of the shakes.

That’s it! That’s all I got. A one sentence description of how PD will likely play itself out over time. No hope. No future. Just gloom and doom.

Reminds me of a story I once read about Rebbetzin Rivkah, the wife of Reb Shmuel of Lubavitch. She developed a serious lung condition and her doctors declared her case to be beyond hope. Her father-in-law, Reb Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch, heard this and said: “On the verse “and he shall surely heal” (Exodus 21:19), the Sages of the Talmud comment, ‘from this we learn that the Torah permits a doctor to heal’. This is what the Torah permits – but when it comes to pronouncing the opposite verdict, G-d forbid, that is no affair of his at all.”

Now, of course I am NOT referring to most doctors out there – who, by attempting to heal their patients, are truly doing G-d’s work, and to whom we should be eternally grateful.

But every so often you might meet up with the other kind of physician – the one who thinks that his job includes pronouncing death sentences and taking away any hope that we might have.

And then we need to remind ourselves that G-d runs the world and He can cure us – if He so desires – no matter what the doctors say. So there!

In this space, it is my goal to share with you a thought, an anecdote, or a lesson in each entry that will hopefully help you “rise to the challenge” of having Parkinson’s disease.