‘I have Parkinson’s – but I’m fitter than I’ve ever been’

A Parkinson’s disease diagnosis can feel like a death sentence, but for retired nurse Jackie Crammond it was a catalyst to start living life to the full.

Since she was told she was living with the condition she has climbed mountains, taken up running, and set herself a series of challenges including wing-walking and sky-diving.

The 63-year-old grandmother, from Hamstreet near Ashford, was diagnosed after developing worrying symptoms following a bout of food poisoning and now uses her experience to help others. She has worked with charity Parkinsons UK to develop support for fellow patients after their diagnosis, and shares her story with students from the Kent and Medway Medical School to help challenge stereotypes and raise awareness of the importance of living well with Parkinson’s.

Jackie, who worked as a nurse for 38 years and managed the endoscopy unit at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford before she retired, said: “It is devastating to be told you have Parkinson’s.

“Like many others I started to Google, and a lot of what I read was bad; it’s degenerative, there’s no cure.

“But then I found information that strenuous physical exercise can improve symptoms and delay progression. That was the only positive thing I could find so I seized it and got to work.”

Jackie works with a specialist physiotherapist, personal trainer, and yoga teacher and now runs up to 6km twice a week, as well as attending yoga classes. She has improved her symptoms and only needs low doses of medication.

She said: “When I was diagnosed I was advised to avoid uneven ground because of the fall risk.

“I mentioned that to the physiotherapist and he said I could climb a mountain if I wanted to. So I did – I climbed Snowdon the year after I was diagnosed.

“I can still do all the things I want to do; I do have some bad days but I find the yoga really helpful in managing anxiety and keeping me calm.

“At the start I couldn’t stand up straight or get out of a chair, now I am running and I am fitter than I’ve ever been.”

Jackie, who has two children and three grandsons, led a session with medical students last week, helping them develop their clinical and diagnostic skills.

Although she does not have the most well-known symptom of tremors, she does experience moments where she freezes, or struggles with walking – but breaking into a run can help.

She said: “When I first spoke to the medical students I think their tutor was a bit disappointed because I wasn’t demonstrating the symptoms they had learned about. Most of the time I don’t look like there is anything wrong with me and my symptoms are well controlled.

“But I think it is helpful to challenge stereotypes and raise awareness of the options for managing Parkinson’s outside of medication.

“I do meet people whose condition is more advanced and that used to scare me but now I try and learn from them about how they cope.

“I don’t think too far into the future, or the past – I know what I have lost will never come back but it is important to remember I do have a future. It might not be what I had thought before my diagnosis but I know there are people who can help manage the condition.” 

Jackie sets herself a challenge a month, and has so far completed a wing-walk, sky-dive, boxing, aerial hoops, and this month walked the 168 miles of the Saxon Shore Way over 10 days. She has also raised money for Parkinson’s UK.

You can read more about the support Jackie helped develop for people living with Parkinson’s at https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/first-steps-programme