Nancy (center left), her brother David (center right), and their siblings.
Parkinson’s disease has been a part of Nancy Post’s life since her older brother was diagnosed with it years ago. When she noticed a tremor in her hands, she didn’t want to admit to herself that she probably had it, too. In 2010, the tremors got worse and she finally went to a doctor for her own diagnosis. Now, one of her sisters is exhibiting signs of PD, as well.
These days, “I do something with Parkinson’s every day,” Nancy said. From being on the board of the Oklahoma Parkinson’s Disease Association, to attending symposiums and health fairs, Nancy spends much of her retired life working on giving people information and referrals, raising money and helping find a cure by donating a little of herself.
When Fox Trial Finder, MJFF's online clinical trials matching tool, was developed, Nancy went online to register by filling out a simple profile about herself. “I thought, 'why not?'” she says. All she had to do then was wait for Fox Trial Finder to match her to trials based on her attributes and qualities. In the past few years, three trials have reached out to her.
When trial teams find out that there are two Parkinson’s patients in the family, they are eager to see the gene makeup, she said. She laughed, saying she ropes her brother into everything she does. “It’s very very important that he does everything that I do,” she said. A trial out of Canada reached out to Nancy through Fox Trial Finder because they were interested in her, her brother and children. “It’s definitely what I’d like to see more than anything – with two children and one of them has two daughters,” she said. “Just to see if you can tell if its’ coming… to see anything at all.”
All three trials that Nancy and her brother have participated in have required a simple blood draw, which can be mailed in. One asked that her doctor fill out some forms. Nancy also participated in genetic testing via 23andMe, which simply involved a cheek swab.
Nancy keeps telling the trials she finds through Fox Trial Finder that she’s willing and able every time they contact her. She’ll continue doing things as easy as drawing blood, and she’s even willing to drive a little bit if they need her for something more lengthy. “I think I've been very fortunate, and I’m all for doing everything I can to get as many people to help,” she said. She considers herself honored to be able to participate.
Join Nancy, her family and the more than 20,000 volunteers who have already registered to help be a part of a cure by visiting www.foxtrialfinder.org today.
Kate Harmon is a guest blogger for FoxFeed and profiles members of the PD community who have participated in clinical trials when she's not working as a newspaper editor. Her father has Parkinson's and her entire family is involved in the fight. Check out their family blog for more of these PD warriors, pcrfinc.com.