An interview with Michael Sweet on Advocacy, July 20, 2023 by George Ackerman, Ph.D, J.D.
Biography
I met my wife when I was 18, we were married a little under a year later when I was 19. We are still happily married 35 years later. I grew up in the Midwest, mainly Minnesota, but I have most of my family in Iowa. My parents unfortunately divorced when I was 10, but I was fortunate to have they each marry incredible Stepparents. My Dad passed away from cancer at the age of 63 and my mom at the age of 68. I have a very close relationship with My stepmom who has been a stupid piece of my life. I don’t know much about my dad’s side of the family as his dad passed away in WWII. But I was able to have an incredible Grandpa that I didn’t know anymore, he wasn’t my blood Grandpa until after my parents were divorced. I have 3 children and 9 grandchildren who keep myself busy trying to keep up with them. I went to high school in south orange County California at El Toro high school and went to Cerritos college for one year.
Can you tell me more about your advocacy?
I started with my three online Advocacy groups on Facebook that led to PAN as the asst state director and the next year I was moved to State Director, one the Capitol was shut down during COVID I transitioned to Davis Phinney but still work closely with Michael J Fox Foundation.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
I’d have to say my passion is making this disease easier to cope with for myself and people like your mother. But the longtime goal is to assure that my grandkids never have to suffer through Parkinson’s disease.
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s awareness have when working with you?
I’d say they goals are so the same, to end Parkinson’s. Short term goals are to get us better medications, more money and support for the ones that aren’t as fortunate as I was that I was able to retire when I needed to.
What effect can your advocacy have on an individual with Parkinson’s awareness?
My story, How I’ve dealt with Parkinson’s and to give them their needed tools and support that people didn’t have but 15 years ago when I teamed up with Joe Narsico and Michelle Lane.
What would you like to see as a future goal for your advocacy?
Ultimate answer is to end Parkinson’s in my lifetime. But my realistic goal is to make my life easier and to assure that my grandkids don’t ever have to suffer through this horrible disease.
What events do you participate in?
If there is an event that I’m able to attend I go to it. This is the first year I was unable to make World Parkinson’s Congress.
How does this also assist the caregivers?
Caregivers may not physically have the disease, but they do have the disease. They had to deal with us, our ups and downs, they have to worry daily about our falls or our inability to do simple items like tying our shoes to cutting up our meat.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
My email is my easiest way to reach me at sweetsr@live.com or you can join my Facebook group at www. facebook.com/groups/yopd1
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson community, what would it be?
Parkinson’s Disease is not the end of our lives it’s a new journey. If you can get the support you need, you’ll live a long a healthy life. I live through one statement. “I may have Parkinson’s Disease, but Parkinson’s Disease will never have me.”