Page 25 - Jewish Home Family Annual Report 2019

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Brothers Tom and Joseph Migliore are fighting back against a disease that they know all too well. The brothers and their three siblings watched as their mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 60, as they became her caregivers during the last three years of her life after their father passed away.
“We all worked hard to take care of our mother when she was afflicted with the disease,” recalls Joseph. “It was devastating to watch.”
The Migliore family has lived in Closter since 1950 and Tom and Joseph served together as Emergency Medical Technicians on the town’s volunteer ambulance corps.
Both Tom and Joseph clearly remember where they were when they realized they would be facing the same struggle as their mother. Tom remembers sitting on the couch on New Year’s Day 2017 when his wife asked: “Did you notice your right finger trembling?” By June he had a solid Parkinson’s diagnosis and was on medical disability from his job at Thompson Reuters by the end of the year.
Joseph says his first symptoms appeared four or five years ago, unexpectedly, while he was sitting in a client’s medical office. “I suddenly had a tiny tremor that started in my fingertip and went all the through my body,” he recalls.
Joseph was still waiting for confirmation from his doctor about his diagnosis when a 10-year-old approached him at the Closter Boy Scouts Klondike Derby event (he’s been a scout leader for 20+ years). He was noticeably shivering. “Mister, are you okay?” the boy asked. “I laughed and said, ‘Well, let me answer your question in two ways: first, thank you for asking the question because that’s what you are supposed to do as a Scout, keep an eye out for your friends and fellow Scouts. And two, I have a condition known as Parkinson’s disease, and that’s why I shiver a little more than normal.’ That was the first time I said those words out loud to anybody.”
Both brothers recall being comforted by their doctors’ assurance that Parkinson’s is “no longer a death sen- tence” and agree that they are “really appreciative of the attitude and treatments that exist today.” Tom laments:
“Back when my mom was diagnosed it was just take these pills and go home.”
“The thing that has benefited us the most is the realiza- tion that our level of physical activity directly improves our ability to work, to think and to play,” Tom says. “I’m not going to become a Parkinson’s victim. People live a pretty normal life with Parkinson’s — it’s like having a bad knee, just with some additional complications.”
Both brothers are avid participants in Rock Steady Boxing at the Jewish Home. “Rock Steady Boxing has been amazing,” Joseph says. “Beyond the boxing is the sense of community. The camaraderie and opportunity to talk to others with Parkinson’s about what you are going through is very helpful.”
“The aspect of community is really important,” Tom agrees, “But I also go to classes sometimes and realize the challenges I’m facing are mild compared to other people in the class. It gives me perspective.”
Tom also joined a gym for the first time at 60 years old, and relishes taking over all his yard work and fix-it tasks around the house. “I’m never sitting in the chair and letting this thing progress like my mom did,” he says with determination.
Joseph has taken a similar route. “We wanted to mulch the gardens last week and so I ordered 225 bags of mulch. We put down 221 bags. At the end of the day I was tired but I felt good. I just keep telling myself this is going to make me feel better and live longer.”
The Migliore brothers are very open about their diagnosis. “One of the biggest shocks for me is the number of people I know who have Parkinson’s,” Tom says.
“Parkinson’s used to carry a stigma with it and it no longer does. It’s amazing how many people you talk to who have loved ones that lived a long healthy life,” Joseph says.
“I have a friend who was diagnosed 21 years ago and he’s still up and walking. There is a lot of hope to be had.”
Fighting Back Against Parkinson’s — A Story of Two Brothers