Page created by: Marcia Aulebach and Family

My grandfather was my hero. He had served in WW1, was a brave strong man. He was an immigrant from Germany whom then came to America to built a new life in New York City with my grandmother.

They raised my father and starting his own business as a butcher. He had always worked very hard and had so much pride in what he did as being a American. He loved working ­to help others always.

That was engrained I mean also as I ­ started working at the age 13­. I put myself through collage, grad school and journeys. He soft German act scent in my head advising his grandchildren to work hard, be honest and this will always take you far in life. Always try tobe open minded and
Listen.

My grandfather passed from Parkinson’s disease in the 1983. I had watch first-hand as Parkinson’s took my hero’s spirt slowly and his beautiful soul. It was a long, sad journey, but he lived bravo with beauty, kindness, dignity and grace until his end.

When I was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 38, I knew it would eventually affect every aspect of my own life. I knew what I had to do. I had to get up, be brave and I had to get going and do some hard work. Because of my grandfather was one of the first person to try Leva dopa trials in NYS. He never gave up to fight for a cure. I would follow in his footsteps.

Today I too have Parkinson for more then 16 years. I am a proud MJFF Advocate, Ambassador and Educator for Parkinson’s s in America. I have enjoyed and learned so much from my fellow PD friends and Organizations, trials, and studies. Also I have learned to be quite listening to others and to be brave with my own journey. I am now like my grandfather before me. Fighting for a cure.