My Crazy Parkinson's Life
Val Parlberg, Princess Warrior
By Mark Hitechew
My life since I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease has exposed me to the realities of life. I have seen the good in life while experiencing the bad. I have seen the weak push themselves to their physical limits just for a chance to enjoy another day. I have laughed and cheered for those who have fought beside me, and I have cried when I have lost another friend. But most of all I have been amazed and inspired by those who refuse to quit, they are what I aspirer to be, and with that I what to introduce the 2nd annual, My Crazy Parkinson’s Life Warrior of the Year, Val Parlberg.
Val is nothing short of amazing, diagnosed at the age twenty-eight, she has battled the beast for over twenty years with the strength and determination of a Navy Seal. Within our RSB family we have everything from newly diagnosed people, to those who have lived with the disease for decades, such as Val. I have only been playing this PD game for five years and I know too much already. So, I pay a lot of attention to the Vets on the RSB team, Rudy, Leonard, Dorothy, and of course Val. If I had mountain, a lot time and talent, they would be my Mt. Rushmore. But Val raised the bar this year, and has rightfully been chosen, Warrior of the Year, I’ll explain.
I was driving to down Pecos to TCTC for my daily dose of Rock Steady Boxing; off in the distance I see a person with a walker struggling on the sidewalk preparing to make the climb up to TCTC. My heart went out to this person as I slowed down to see if they were ok, I looked and I thought “Holy Shirt”, that’s one of our boxers, Val. I stopped and asked her if she wanted a ride, Val slowly looked up and saw it was me and said one word, “yes”. I asked her where she came from, see said “Pecos and 215, that’s a good mile what an amazing testament to the human spirit, I was humbled.
It seems like people have a hard time getting in the car and driving to gym, much less, walking a mile using an indoor walker. In spite of all the obstacles she faced, it was game on. Val did not call Orlando and say “I can’t make class; I don’t have a ride”. Nope, not Val, there was no self-pity, just the determination of warrior.
Isolation can be huge problem for people with PD; our disease is not private, and it is on display for the world to see. I don’t know about others, but I for one are self-conscious in public. I feel like the whole world is watching me. I struggle to get a key in a lock, put a jacket on, remove my wallet from my pants, etc.….., so there plenty to see. Yet walking across a room I look almost normal, except for a tremor in my left hand and a left foot that flops around like a dead fish. But Val’s struggle is right out there for the world to see and quite frankly, she doesn’t give a $h*t! Nothing stops Val, she leads by example.
At our 2021 RSB Christmas party; Orlando had taken the time to put together a couple games to play and asked for volunteers and no one would step up to play. But then in her soft voice she said “I’ll do it”. She got herself up there and proceeded to play the first game. They asked for a second volunteer, no hands went up, so I went up there and proceeded to do worse than Val. But she was not done, Orlando had a second game where you put a box of bells around your waist above your booty. Not surprisingly no volunteers, then to the rescue comes Val, again. Back up front she went shaking her booty with no fear, giving it hell. I don’t know what everyone else thought, don’t really care, to me she was fantastic.
And now I find out Val is moving to Arizona at the end of April, I am sad to see Val go, she inspires me with her determination and effort to fight back, she is truly fearless. And that fearlessness will once again be on display April 9th, 2022 at UNLV as she models clothes for Zappos at the Parkinson’s Place Movement Fair. She will steal the show I promise. Val, you have touched me in so many ways, you will forever be in my heart and mind. I am proud to have coached you, and “Thank You” for the lesson in courage, I know it will come in handy someday.
Love, Mark