Team Fox member Katie Strittmatter (pictured here with her family) recently participated in the Denver Rock & Roll Half Marathon Relay, raising over $2,500 for The Michael J. Fox Foundation. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 32, Katie decided to take control. She was connected to Tonia Cliff, a woman in her community who also has Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD); together, they started a support group and joined Team Fox. Here, Katie highlights how her life has changed over the last eighteen months.

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a year and a half ago, but looking back now, I was struggling with it for quite some time before that. It took two years of strange symptoms and one unnecessary surgery to finally get an accurate diagnosis; so personally, I was somewhat relieved to finally get an answer. I had some difficult days but came to acceptance fairly quickly and feel that I have adjusted to life with Parkinson’s fairly well.

For my family, acceptance of the diagnosis has not been so easy. I assumed in the beginning that I would just carry on and handle it individually, I really didn’t consider how it would affect them or even that it would impact their lives at all. We have all had to learn to communicate on a different level, being diagnosed with an incurable disease at the age of 32 really forces you to lean on one another for support and understanding. This may have been the first time in my life that I have ever asked for help. My husband is a major league baseball coach who is away from home about 190 days a year. Our lifestyle definitely presents challenges for all of the family members involved, but we are continually blessed with love and support from our baseball families.

I am so grateful for the support in my personal life, but even more so at work. It takes me much longer to do everyday tasks and getting out of bed in the morning is a challenge due to lack of sleep, foot cramps, and muscle stiffness. I don’t know what the future holds for me as far as my ability to continue working as I am exhausted beyond belief at the end of the day, but I am also grateful every day that I am able to get out of bed and work a full day. I realize how very lucky I am to work in the wonderful environment that I do and I never take a single day for granted anymore.

Despite all of the challenges, Parkinson’s disease has changed me for the better as well. I no longer worry about the small details in life. I have come to realize what I value and consider important. I no longer sweat the small stuff, as I truly understand that the time to enjoy my life is today. I have really worked on communication with my family, and although the road has been bumpy at times, I think we have been forced to communicate with an openness and honesty that really wasn’t there before.

I have just completed my first Team Fox event. I ran in the Denver Rock & Roll Half Marathon Relay. I ran a 5.2-mile run while my neighbor ran the other 7.8 (and then continued on to make sure I kept going). I ran with my friend, Tonia Cliff, a member of young onset support group that we created together. Tonia was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s as well and ran to raise money for Team Fox. We felt that we needed the support of others who are trying to live with this disease while continuing to work and raise young children. When we began the support group it was just the two of us, but that was enough; I was thrilled to know that there was at least one person nearby who really understood me. To date there are 10 members. We meet informally at restaurants, ping pong arcades, and recently a baseball game. I am constantly surprised as I feel like someone reaches out almost monthly. I never could have imagined myself attending a support group of any kind, but I really don’t know how I would have gotten through those first months without their support. I would encourage any person living with Parkinson’s to at least give it a shot, we laugh often and all of the members play a huge role in my happiness and drive to continue to work hard every day.

The Rock & Roll Half was my first Team Fox event, but certainly not my last. This race was much more meaningful than any of the others I have done, and it was incredible to see how amazingly slow I was! Next time I may go for the spa day for Parkinson’s!!! It means so much to me to be able to fundraise for the Fox Foundation. Once again, Parkinson’s disease has reminded me of how much love and support I have in my life and what a tremendous blessing that is. I truly believe a cure is on the way, and I know that I have a responsibility to myself and the millions of others that live with this disease every day to help find it. I am very grateful to all who have offered support or a helping hand, and to those who have read my story as well.