Gabriela Červenová

Friends, greetings to you. My name is Gabriela Červenová, I am 59 years old, and I come from Nitra. In February, it was three years since I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Already at my first visit to the neurologist, the doctor described symptoms that matched my condition. I had all of them, but I didn’t attach any importance to them, because I could explain each one in my own way. The only thing I knew about the disease was that people tremble, and the only person with Parkinson’s I knew was John Paul II, the Pope. My family also didn’t know much about this diagnosis, and to this day they watch me humbly as the disease manifests itself in me.

I must say proudly that I myself have come to terms with it and accepted it with humility. I meet with people from the civic association ProParkinson. I am learning about new treatment methods, and we talk about the problems each of us has.

I have no problem talking about my neurodegenerative disease with my family, my children, my friends, and even with strangers. I want them to know who I am, what I am, and where this will probably lead me. Maybe one day I will need their help, and it would frighten me if they walked past me without noticing when I need it most.

I teach this to my two grandchildren as well, and believe me, it can be quite funny. When I told them that germs are eating my brain—or rather part of it—they brushed it off with a wave of their hand. They say they will pay attention to me and help me, because “grandma has no sense.” And by the way, now I remember that my mother told me a few times that I had no sense. Hmm, maybe she already knew back then what was wrong with me.

I have to write like this—I don’t want to close myself off, to shut myself away from the world. I still have my goals that I want to achieve and to be with those I love for as long as possible. I want to be with you.