My name is Linda Wild and my husband, Jerry Wild was diagnosed a little over a year ago with Parkinson’s disease. As his caregiver, I feel compelled to share with you his fight with the disease.

Jerry, who is an Architect, Artist, Musician and a Tai Chi Instructor, has been practicing Tai Chi a form of martial art exercises for over 30 years. Within the last 5 years, he has decided to expand and share his knowledge of Tai Chi by teaching at a community college located in St. Louis, MO. Jerry has always had a broad mix of students who would sign up for his classes ranging from young to old. The end result was very positive with many students praising his vast knowledge and incredible patience ensuring that each and every student would benefit from his class. Jerry enjoys teaching because he likes to help others and felt inspired by his Tai Chi teachers. Years of practicing Tai Chi has helped him prolong Parkinson’s symptoms that he has developed since his early thirties, yet to be diagnosed or from advancing in stages. Because he began practicing Tai Chi when he felt unexplained muscle pain and panic attacks Jerry was able to prevent the progression of the disease. At the age of 50, Jerry decided to go to a neurologist to be tested after noticing numbness in his left leg. He was referred to a neurologist who could not immediately diagnosis him and said that he was just getting older with some possible arthritis. With no medication, he kept teaching Tai Chi and exercising more often to relieve the symptoms. Two years later, the numbness moved to his left hand and he went back to the neurologist who suggested that because of the slight symptoms he is experiencing to take the medicine for PD patients, thus helping to find a medical diagnosis. He took the physicians advice and a confirmed medical diagnosis for PD was obtained by the neurologist because his body responded to the medicine.

After his diagnosis, Jerry became very depressed at the thought of a degenerative disease that would someday overcome his body. He contacted the local St. Louis American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) chapter and asked where he can attend PD support groups within his area. There he met other PD patients both young and old struggling to obtain their balance and control of their body movements. As he mingled with the crowd and began to socialize he discovered that many of them had experienced a fall from loss of balance leaving them with bruises. He came home that night and told me that he has found a purpose and met people who need his help! Jerry knew that Tai Chi was helping him keep his balance and felt strongly that he could help other PD patients and their caregivers.

As Jerry became more involved with the APDA support group he heard about a doctor at Washington University School of Medicine who was doing general research on Parkinson’s disease and the effects dance would have on the patient. Immediately, Jerry contacted her and suggested Tai Chi as a form of exercise for the PD patient to improve balance and coordination. After analysis of Jerry’s background, the researcher agreed to a clinical trial to evaluate the exercises for PD patients. Prior clinical studies completed at Washington University have discovered that stress leads to rigidity in the body making it harder to obtain control over motor functions. A discovery that Jerry knew all too well from his own experiences and could now easily manage. Jerry being the genuine and gentle soul that he is, decided to not only assist the University but also create a video that would detail for PD patients and their caregivers daily Tai Chi exercises that both can do to alleviate the stress of the disease. Although Jerry is not advocating his exercises as a cure all, with his current experience he can attest to the health benefits the PD patient will receive and I of course, being his wife and a lifelong Tai Chi student of Jerry I can give a testament as the caregiver.

We would love to hear from you and your thoughts of how we can be of service together in this battle that has yet to be won.