Page created by: Chiara Pichierri

Dad was the best father and the most loving grandfather we could have ever wished for.
He was a retired nurse who devoted his life to caring for the sick. Even outside of work, he helped people out of the kindness of his heart, never expecting anything in return.

Parkinsonism entered his life after a transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 2013. From that point on, his speech began to decline, and his motor abilities gradually worsened. Despite this, he continued to care for his grandchildren and remained a constant, loving, supportive presence in our lives.

A fall in his own home marked a turning point, causing his condition to spiral rapidly out of control. Within days, his speech became nearly impossible to understand. He soon stopped eating due to dysphagia, a common complication of Parkinson’s disease. After spending a couple of weeks on a feeding tube, he slowly slipped into a semi-comatose state. It was heartbreaking—for him and for me—to watch him fade away. He was taken from us in just under six weeks.

In loving memory of my father, Antonio Pichierri, I wish to support the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in its quest for a cure for this cruel condition.