My name is Serge Boily, I am 54 years old, specialist in urban pesticides from 1990 to 2001, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a year and a half ago.
In all transparency, I had symptoms long before, but I was trying to avoid and hide the reality of what I was going through…
The way people experience the disease is different from one person to another, but the important thing is to surround yourself and find support from people and organizations such as Parkinson Quebec.
Many activities, support groups, conferences, research information are available to all of us online.
Above all, don’t stay alone! You’re going to leave your energy there more than you think… Pay attention to your family as well, they are there to support you, but keep in mind that they are not there to find solutions.
At first I didn’t know how to react. I have two children, 12 and 16 years old, and they want their father to be the same as he has always been, but they have to accept the appearance of different symptoms and the fact that we change physically: the way we express ourselves, the voice, the tremors….
However, each person experiences Parkinson’s differently. Remember that I am 54 years old and the treatment will evolve (doses, types of medication), while for someone older, say 84 years old, his doses will generally remain the same…
For our well-being, we need to stay active, move, surround ourselves with reliable people! Do not hesitate to call and ask for help, it is necessary for our morale, Parkinson Quebec is there for us!
One message I want to get across today is:
Stay away from pesticides!.
Pesticides affect farmers (directly affected users) but also families living in rural areas near large fields (pesticides are volatile).
My struggle is to find a way to live more serenely!
However, the miracle solution does not exist for the moment, so we must take the medicines that help us. Personally, they have helped me a lot! Just like consulting a psychologist, neuropsychologist, physiotherapist (boxing lessons), friends…
I try to find people who are going through the same thing as I am and encourage them, but often they are not at the same point. My opinion is that we can help each other. We have the same disease, even though we are all different.
Grieving the disease is also different from person to person. I don’t accept it yet, but I’ve decided to do the same and do the best I can! The important thing for me is to be a good father, a good co-worker and not to overly burden those close to me, because it’s not their fault.
Sometimes you get disconnected from reality because you have memory problems and it’s annoying… I can’t always follow a conversation, I lose track and I try to catch up with the beginning of the conversation, but it’s too long. That’s when you isolate yourself.
Sometimes I try to catch up with the conversation but often it’s too late, the others don’t want to go back because my intervention becomes irrelevant .
Other things I experience are discouragement.
At times, you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel… I try to stay positive, keep my focus, improve, follow the treatments, call specialists, they are there for us!
I know that we are not the first on the hospital system’s list, but we have the right to express ourselves and say that we are suffering!
I try to get involved as best I can. I met a wonderful person, Romain Rigal, Director of Service Development at Parkinson Quebec. I thank him for the help he has given me.
I want you to know that I have confidence in the future, but one day at a time.
Don’t give up, we are trying to prove to the government that we are suffering and that we are victims of Quebec pesticides (VPQ). Insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and so on, these are all dangerous products! Be careful, companies are here to make money…
It’s up to us to unite to make a difference and bring about change!
Serge