When Marci Petrick learned that her husband, Vern, had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, she could scarcely imagine things getting worse for her family. However, just as they were coming to terms with the news, they learned that their 22-year old son, Ben, was also suffering from the disease.
Both men seemed to be physically thriving prior to their diagnoses. Vern was the athletic director of Glencoe High School, and Ben had recently been chosen to play for the Colorado Rockies baseball team – a dream come true.
At a time in her life when many people are looking forward to retirement, Marci faced an uncertain future. Parkinson’s Disease gradually strips away the ability to control movement, speech, balance and, eventually, the ability to care for oneself. She was unsure if she would be able to care for her family as the illness took hold.
Marci and her family found hope in the OHSU Parkinson Center of Oregon. “From the day we walked in the doors of the Parkinson Center, we felt as if we were being absorbed into a nurturing community we never knew existed,” she says. “The Parkinson Center helped make me a strong, capable caregiver.”
With the help of the Parkinson Center, both Ben and Vern were able to continue their careers for several years after being diagnosed. They are hopeful that research will one day lead to a cure. In the meantime, they are grateful to the center for enabling them lead such full and active lives.
