Page created by: Lauren Curtin

Update December 24, 2017
Bill made it home from rehab just in time for the Patriots game.

Update December 1, 2017
Bill was moved to a rehab facility on Tuesday and has been working hard. We hope to have him home for the holidays.

November 27, 2017

Dear Mr. Fox,
I am writing to you on behalf of my husband, Tim Curtin. This year for Christmas he asked that I not get him a gift, but instead, donate to a few Parkinsons Foundations. My father-in-law, Bill, was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in the summer of 2015. He is only 61, but has had a very sharp decline in the past 2 years. My grandmother battled Parkinsons for over 20 years, and even at its worst, it never seemed this progressive.
Anyone that knew Bill before his diagnosis, knew him as a fun-loving, sweetheart of a man, that would literally give you the shirt off his back. He was the model father; the coach of every little league team his son was on, donating his time at the school and church. When he was first diagnosed, he refused to give in. He continued working full-time, until spinal issues caused him to take a short leave from work. In those few months of recovery, he said to us: I am not ready to give up working; my mind is still going.
After some recovery, his company allowed him to return to work at his own pace, working from home. Between his muscle fatigue and the mental fog that the medications put him in, this time back at work was short-lived. In the beginning of the year, he applied for short-term disability again, with the hope that intense physical therapy could be beneficial and prevent his having to retire. Unfortunately, insurance only pays so much, and eventually Bill was only receiving light physical therapy 2 times a week. Since the summer, he is no longer able to be left alone for extended periods of time, as he has had many falls. As a family, we have made it possible to have someone with him every day. I am with him on Mondays. These circumstances have brought me much closer to my new father-in-law, but also sadden me to see the vibrant man slipping away. Two days before Thanksgiving, while his brother was with him, Bill took a fall that caused him to break his hip. The next day he had emergency hip replacement. Hopefully, this week he will head off to a rehab center to begin his surgical recovery, and hopefully get extra physical therapy to aid him with his Parkinsons.
Bill is most definitely a fighter, but dealing with all the times he has been knocked down, he has starting to have less power and motivation to get back up. In Bills case, it seems like nothing is ever improving, or even just able to stave off further progression of the disease.
We hope to have Bill home for the holidays, having gained a little more control over this disease. I know it would mean a lot to my husband and his father to hear any advice you might be able to provide. Living in the Boston area, we would appreciate any referrals to cutting-edge physicians or facilities in our area, that might offer more help.

Much Thanks,

Lauren Curtin