Page created by: Sue, Rob's friend

"Rob Fedorczyk, Single Parent, Grandfather, Husband, Brother, Uncle, Son, Care Giver, Christian, Musician, Open Mic Host, Design Engineer, Scout Leader, Youth Baseball Coach - of all the never expected to include Parkinson's Disease patient among them.

After a misdiagnosis in 2008, which led to two surgeries (probably unnecessary and possibly damaging) rerouting the ulnar nerve in his right arm by a neurologist, that didn't think to consider Parkinson's Disease in a 50 year old, Physically-fit man, Rob was finally diagnosed in 2010 by a medical student, accompanying a doctor during an office visit.

Rob the musician began playing slide guitar in the 1980's, inspired by Johnny Winter and his metal-body National resonator guitar. He was active in two blues bands, The Roadrunners and The Hell Hounds. Music took a backstage when Rob married, started his career and became a father. When Rob's two boys were 4 and 11, he became a single father, scout leader, youth baseball coach and active church member. Exercise, running and a healthy, vegetarian diet were always important to Rob; he was a picture of perfect health.

Twelve years ago Rob started a music ministry with Trinity Episcopal Church in Easton, PA, Sitgreaves Coffee House, an acoustic open mic. The 2nd Sunday of every month, Rob provides musicians with a stage, complete with several vocal mics, direct inputs, monitors, stage lights, amps. Each session is recorded and provided to the musicians. Through the twelve-year ministry, Rob has not cancelled or missed one month.

Rob's earliest symptoms of PD were loss of sense of smell, sluggish right hand and foot, anxiety, sleeplessness and trouble with short term recall. These symptoms led to the end of Rob's career as an integrated circuit design engineer. Within a year of his diagnosis as he was unable to keep up with the demands of this fast-paced, competitive industry, which sometimes necessitated all-nighters to meet strict project deadlines.

Never a man to sit still, Rob adopted the " The fuse is lit" mentality and began his journey to make the most of every single day for as long as he is able. He babysits his grandchildren, now ages 3 and 7, two or three days a week. Babysit is a loosely-used term, which means he is responsible for the children during a set period; he doesn't sit. Depending on the time of year, he and the children spend their days with science experiments, learning about simple machines such as pulleys and catapults or on ambitious craft projects or just playing outside, observing the woodlands and getting dirty. When not with the grandchildren, he spends most of his days maintaining the home property, cutting trees and splitting wood for winter heat. Most nights are spent in the studio Rob built within the 125 year old barn.

While many folks don't notice Rob's PD symptoms, after 9 years they are progressing, and making life more challenging, Rob does not have tremors, but rather rigidity; there are times when his right-hand fingers won't move at all. His balance and gait are textbook Parkinson's. His voice has become very soft and often difficult to understand. Most troubling is his difficulty in swallowing, which has lent itself to aspirating into his lungs and pneumonia a few times a year. Anxiety can pop up at any time for no reason at all; the neurologist tells us this is common with PD.

As Rob's PD has progressed through the years, and continues to progress, playing guitar becomes more difficult and off-times more unpredictable, Rob has reinvented himself as a musician by changing the genre of music he plays, learning new, easier-to-play instruments, and now rather than playing out, he spends his time in his recording studio. He has released two CD's and is currently mixing his 3rd. Rob squeezes in his music projects, while recording other musicians and providing sound at music festivals and blue grass shindigs. He records, mixes and masters local musician's work at no charge, or at cost; this is his fondest ministry.

Rob shares his music free-of-charge through his website, CD Baby, and You Tube. His original song, Parkinson's Blues provides a humorous look at PD, while spreading awareness of the symptoms he, and others, live with every day. Parkinson's Blues song and slide show can be viewed at Other original songs are reflective of the man Rob is, and has become, while living with Parkinson's Disease."

I have known Rob a short time and asked him to give me an idea of his background. The above is his story, with the help of his wife Jane. Rob's one desire is that the Michael J. Fox Foundation and others would be able to use his little musical slide show to raise awareness of Parkinson's disease . Please look on You Tube. under rO(zero)b F, The New Parkinson's Blues. I assure you , you won't be disappointed with this whimsical look at this disease.