Last year, Sam Cohen described his Parkinson’s journey, which started with his diagnosis in 2023 at the age of 37. The diagnosis created a lot of uncertainty for this young father of two, but with the help of the people in the Brian Grant Foundation’s Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease group, Sam found a community to support him.
Today, Sam is enjoying life with his family, with gratitude for the support he’s received from our community. In his own words:
My parents just celebrated their 50th anniversary in August, so our family went on a big camping trip down to the Sierra Nevada mountains in Eastern California, where they met. We’re always trying to do more as a family and take advantage of the opportunities to have memorable experiences.
I also started dating last September, and now I’ve been with my girlfriend for over a year. We met for brunch and have been together ever since. It’s brought me happiness, and in my personal life I finally feel like I have some forward momentum again.
I went through a dark time when things were going sideways with my family and I didn’t know what the future would look like. Now there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and with the support of the Brian Grant Foundation, I feel like I’m managing my Parkinson’s. I don’t have to think about it constantly, and it doesn’t have to affect everything. I’m really grateful for that.
I want people to know the value of the Brian Grant Foundation. Everyone I’ve seen join the groups or engage with BGF ends up really connecting and getting something meaningful out of it. I also attended the gala this year, which was a phenomenal experience. One of Brian’s children thanked me for being involved. It meant a lot coming from them. It’s nice to know I’m making a positive impact.I don’t know what the next step is,but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. And thanks to the BGF community, I’ll have the support and experience of a lot of good people when I do.
As we approach the new year, we hope you’ll consider donating to support our community. Your gift helps those living with Parkinson’s move forward and find their light at the end of the tunnel.
