He is only 37 years old. But Kim Verbaarschot of Deurne has Parkinson’s disease. She was diagnosed a year ago. “At first I suffered from foot cramps and a shaking leg. I went to the doctor and he referred me to the neurologist and then I was diagnosed. Parkinson’s is becoming more and more common and affects young people more and more ”.
It’s something not many people know, Kim says. In fact, the youngest patient diagnosed with the disease is only 13 years old. Parkinson’s is a progressive disease. This means that complaints increase and expand over time. Kim now only suffers from the right side of her body.
“The things you normally do on autopilot no longer work on my right. Writing and typing, for example, are not automatic. I also drag my leg. I have to think carefully about lifting my feet well and taking a step, “he says on the Omroep Brabant Brabant Today TV show.
Kim became a mother at a young age and has 4 children. Until recently, she effortlessly combined it with a demanding job and an active social life. “Multitasking, doing many things side by side, is no longer possible.”
“It takes me a little more effort to keep up with the conversations.”
Parkinson’s changes life dramatically. But it’s not that bad for Kim because of her meds. “I can do almost anything however I want. For example, I’m pretty tired from birthdays. It takes me a little more effort to keep up with the conversations.”
She works herself in the health sector, where she also deals with Parkinson’s patients. “I can continue to work. I now have drugs that give me reasonable control and I have very nice colleagues who support me where it is needed. I don’t know if I’m as good as the patients I know. Parkinson’s is different for everyone. Nobody knows what the future will be like, I won’t think about it yet. I hope more research is done and more money is raised. “
It’s important that people know more about Parkinson’s and donate money, says Kim. She and two others then became the face of a ParkinsonNL campaign that began on Tuesday. “We are unstoppable, Parkinson’s is”, is the theme.
“It can hit anyone. I hope I can still benefit a lot from the new developments ”.
