An interview with A. Adrian Mireles, A Brief Chat with Adrian a PERSON, Advocate and Patient, All in that Order
Biography
I am Adrian Mireles and I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017. I worked for 21 years primarily in oilfield trucking services, but also have radio and stage experience, and have had a few small movie roles. I am a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador. I strongly believes in education, advocacy, and a positive attitude – all of which have been an integral part of my Parkinson’s journey.
Can you tell me more about your Advocacy?
My advocacy although wide ranging in scope is geared more towards living longer fuller and better lives for those of us with Parkinson’s and those of us that care for people with Parkinson’s. I do believe that research and fundraising are extremely important not only for now but the future. But I’m a big proponent of not letting the status quo dictate the type of life we’re able to live.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
My passion is specifically in being helpful to best share tips and thoughts on how best to deal with being hospitalized. For those of us that have Parkinson’s disease, as you may or may not know, being in the hospital is rarely because of Parkinson’s disease. But it complicates things and many times makes the outcomes worse than necessary. I became involved in Parkinson’s awareness shortly after my own diagnosis after going through a very difficult road to diagnosis. And realizing that more than likely many others out there have gone through the same difficult process, and as far as hope for a cure, I have yet to meet anyone who has Parkinson’s disease which does not share this hope for a cure. My emphasis is on living a good and full life, while the people out there, much smarter than myself, are working on a cure.
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s have when seeing your Advocacy?
I would say that when people hear me speak or attend a program in which I’m a part of or see me online et cetera they possibly get a little bit of enthusiasm of sorts, to want to keep living full, fun and productive lives as opposed to succumbing to the setbacks of this illness that we live with.
What type of training and how long are the programs?
Through the Parkinson’s foundation we offer many many different types of webinars, podcasts, online trainings as well as in person trainings. And depending on what you are interested in pursuing, as far as advocacy or simply just to learn, if you are a person living with Parkinson’s yourself We have programs and trainings as short as 1 minute. In person programs may last an hour or so but there is a whole host of different resources that we offer.
What effect can your Advocacy have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
I believe that the things I talk about can have very positive effects on people with Parkinson’s if they’re willing to listen and possibly follow some of the tips that I’m able to share. Which I actually learned from listening to others with Parkinson’s and those without, and as I travel around to different states in the country and speak at different events you would be surprised at the difference in resources and outlooks from state to state which give you a well rounded view of opportunities and resources out there.
What would you like to see as a future goal for your Advocacy?
I would really like to see more in person programs available, not only for myself but for other people that are out there advocating for the different aspects of living with Parkinson’s disease or caregiving. So although there are many programs put on by universities, medical establishments and support groups, I would like to see more opportunities being offered out there by different organizations.
What events do you participate in?
I participate In many in person speaking programs where I am either the featured speaker or one of the speakers. So along with sharing a stage with other people, as well as visits to support groups I also do many webinars and podcast appearances or visits and take part in fundraising events such as walks and marathons for fundraising or awareness raising of Parkinson’s Disease.
How does this also assist the caregivers?
I believe that any information that is shared from Parkinson’s patients to caregivers and vice versa is extremely helpful to the caregiving community because it allows for insight Into the views, struggles and accomplishments of the Parkinson’s patient as well as better ways to not only care for those of us living with Parkinson’s, but better and more positive ways to make it through caregiving for those of us with Parkinson’s. Because the truth of the matter is neither one of those is easy.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
Through our foundation website which is parkinson.org anyone out there can find all of and many more of the resources that I’ve talked about as well as looking up podcasts and webinars that I am on personally through the Parkinson’s Foundation Learning Lab. Personally I can be emailed at AdrianPDwarrior@yahoo.com and I’m also on TikTok as AdrianPDWarrior where I have many videos, not daily but very frequently post.
How can others also become advocates for awareness?
Although there are many ways that someone can become an advocate for Parkinson’s disease awareness one of my suggestions would be to go to Parkinson.org and look into becoming an ambassador which will give you a platform to speak from with the backing of the Foundation once you’ve gone through some training. Besides that there are so many people out there dealing with Parkinson’s at home, so speak with a loved one and I believe If you just go out and offer to share your experiences at care facilities or hospitals or places like that that will in itself make you an advocate.
In your opinion, what is the key to effective advocacy?
I believe that the key to being an effective advocate is not only originality but being genuine, not attempting to portray or be something that you’re not. It always needs to be kept in mind that you’re an advocate not an actor.
How can we better fundraise to support a cure for Parkinson’s?
I think it would be more effective as far as fundraising if we took some notes from the political spectrum, and I say that not being political by any means in this answer but by simply saying when we put out there causes and solutions to issues and problems in mass form we seem to get a lot of funds poured in. Especially in politics, so I don’t think it’s too far a stretch of the imagination that if we focus on getting more information out there like this we may have more people, places, organizations et cetera, not only willing to donate funds for research, but lining up to do so and have their name linked or attached to any future cure.
What other activities do you undertake to help improve and support your daily living Eg exercise and alternative remedies?
The biggest activity that I undertake Is exercise, as mentioned I religiously exercise every day 1st thing in the morning, I walk several miles per day. I used to jog but due to realities of life I continue to do what I can, in the form that I can still do it. I also regularly attend physical therapy sessions which focus on my different abilities and expand on those instead of worrying about my inabilities anymore. Besides that I try to stay involved In many ventures not only having to do with Parkinson’s disease but many others that actually don’t, because they keep me busy and my life going forward as a person and not as a patient.
Why should people who don’t have Parkinson’s care about this?
I believe that all of us out there whether we have Parkinson’s or not should care about this issue and not only this issue but all medical issues because we may not have it now or we may not have it ourselves ever. But it is almost a sure thing that someone in our lives a loved one or friend will face one of these serious medical issues and If we pay more attention now we will be more adept at being helpful to them in the future.
Have you had any family members or relatives affected by Parkinson’s disease?
Yes, Parkinson’s Disease was definitely not something new to me I have had quite a number of relatives who lived with Parkinson’s Disease: aunts, uncles, grandparents et cetera.
If you had one song that would tell us more about you or represent your life, which song would it be?
I lived by One Republic
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
Believe!!!! Believe in yourself always Believe that you are alive Believe that you will overcome Believe that you will make it and Believe that there is hope for the future.
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TogetherForSharon® In memory of my mother, Sharon to voice awareness & hope for a Parkinson’s Disease cure. Sharon’s Son, George