OUR TEAM

In the spring of 2001, I noticed my right hand seemed to stiffen up at times.  Thinking it was carpal tunnel from too much typing, I didn’t really worry until the fall  when I tried to do the “chicken dance” with my eight year old son and my hand wouldn’t move correctly.  I saw my family physician. Just before I left his office, he asked casually if there was anyone in my family with neurological problems.  Although there isn’t, that question began to gnaw on me in the weeks ahead.  My family physician had referred me to a hand specialist who referred me to a neurologist. The neurologist made the diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease.  I was 45.

For the first five years, I hid my diagnosis and told only a few close friends and family members.  Finally, my husband said to me that if any good was to come of this,  I needed to tell people about it.  After giving careful consideration to what he said, I decided that if I was going to come out, I was going to do it in a big way.  About that time, my friend Marla and I were discussing doing a vintage fashion show.  Marla asked me if I was doing  it as a fundraiser and I thought, “Why not?”  Thus, Pinky’s Passion for Fashion was created.