Robert Turner
New Orleans, LA
“I cannot control that I have Parkinson’s, but I can control my response to it.”
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2019, after seeing a variety of specialists. But I can look back up to fifteen years earlier and see other, both motor and non-motor, symptoms that are attributable to PD. It is through the sharing of people and organizations in the Parkinson’s community that I have learned how to be alive with Parkinson’s.
Living well with Parkinson’s means holding myself accountable every day for being physically active, eating well, and doing things to maintain my mental well-being. It also means loving myself with grace when I don’t achieve what I think I “should” do. Living well also means helping someone else with Parkinson’s, wherever they are in their journey.
I strive to live life as optimistically about my health as possible. I have a passion for sharing my optimism with others. I want to encourage other people with Parkinson’s to live to their fullest ability, despite having Parkinson’s disease.
I’m impressed with the quality and professionalism of the Foundation, its staff, and its resources. One of the Foundation’s core values is helping all people achieve their best life while living with Parkinson’s. I think this is an organization that will enable me to be of service to LGBTQ+ People with Parkinson’s.
Equality and non-discrimination for all people is important to me. I care about uplifting individuals to live their best life in all areas of their existence. In my spare time I like to exercise and play sports and try to achieve more than I did before. I love art (particularly sculpture), attending ballet and theater performances, and dining out on delicious food of a variety of cuisines. I like knowing about different cultures and learning their languages.