Parkinson's will never beat me, says city dad

A PLYMOUTH man with an early Parkinson’s diagnosis has spoken about living with the disease, saying that trying to hug his five-year-old can be difficult if he’s having a bad day.

Jonathan Firmin was in his 30s when he realised things weren’t quite right. Now 48, he says that people were shocked by his diagnosis.

Back then, he started making T-shirts to help raise awareness about the disease. The slogans read “No need for electric toothbrushes” and “I make a perfect cocktail shaker.” He hoped it would break the ice when people saw him and open up a conversation, particularly in his remote-control racing shop.

“Most people were quite shocked to find out I had Parkinson’s – even some of my closest friends. Everyone has been really supportive.”

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition. It occurs when a small group of nerve cells in the brain no longer produce enough dopamine. This is a chemical that transmits messages from the brain to other parts of the body, enabling people to perform smooth, coordinated movements. Without enough dopamine, it causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time.

“I was losing motion in my right hand. After a lot of tests and scans, it was confirmed I had Parkinson’s. When the neurologist told me, I was actually relieved. It was a shock to the system but it was also good that they had found out what was causing the paralysis. I was prescribed medication and I could get on with my life.”

He adds: “It has been quite challenging. If I am having a really bad morning, trying to hug my five-year-old can be difficult. The physical fatigue I suffer with is quite extreme. Most evenings when I get home from work, I need a nap.