In his memoir All You Can Do is Do What You Must: Living with Parkinson’s Disease, Ira Fried describes his own highly personal journey from diagnosis through progression of this degenerative neurological disorder. Diagnosed at age 47, Ira brings a philosophical perspective to the challenges of living with Parkinson’s Disease.
Throughout childhood the victim of a procession of bullies at school and an abusive mother at home, he learned the resilience he would need to cope with both Parkinson’s Disease and peripheral neuropathy. At age 14 he began running, which became a lifelong passion and key coping strategy. Ironically, difficulty running offered the first sign that he had a neurological disorder. As his disease progresses, still, he finds ways to be grateful for all he has, optimistic about the future, and determined to let other Parkies know they are not alone.
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