The Work Ethic Taught By My Parents—a Break from Injustice

Last updated on: February 12, 2023 at 6:47 am by Julie Nichols

The Work Ethic Taught By My Parents—a Break from Injustice 2023-02-12T06:47:23-06:00 Julie Nichols

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Today I am going to take a rest from addressing injustices, oppression, and marginalization of Neurodiverse and other minority related populations since they are core in who I serve as a professional. The inspiration for this piece today comes directly from my parents, Margie and Charlie Neuenschwander, of Lakeway, Texas. I am shifting gears to thank them for the core ethics they taught me, primarily in the areas of “The Work Ethic” and “Not Giving Up” which are hallmark to much of the Boomer Generation. I have experienced different challenges in my life, but I am sticking with how primarily these core teachings from my parents helped save my life, my family, and my faith, specifically through my journey with Parkinson’s Disease. Not only were my husband and children very supportive, so were my parents, and my mother and father-in-law.

In 2012, The Baylor College of Medicine diagnosed me in a pre-morbid state with early-onset Parkinson’s Disease. After 12 years of being misdiagnosed, sent to doctor after doctor, and dismissed, I didn’t know if I could take another step. Our children were still in elementary, middle, and high school at-the-time. I had to take a leave of absence from work to finally receive the correct diagnosis in Houston, TX, four hours away from where we live in San Antonio, TX. I will never forget the look on my husband’s face and on the face of Movement Disorder Clinic at the Baylor College of Medicine. They were devastated upon a confirmation of Parkinson’s Disease while I was elated to finally receive the correct and final diagnosis. I knew it was Parkinson’s Disease the moment my body responded the Carvidopa-Levadopa, a synthetic form of Dopamine developed in the 1960s. The response was so dramatic that I was crippled over and not able to sit up to then running down the hall and performing jumping jacks. Watching the tears in my husband’s eyes and in the eyes of the doctors, I asked them, “What are you all so upset about? I am elated to finally be correctly diagnosed and treated. It’s time to celebrate!” A trial of Carvidopa-Levadopa is many times a confirmation of a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. The movement disorder clinic just wasn’t expecting Parkinson’s Disease in a 41-year-old female. This was 10 years ago.

Since my doctor projected that I had the disease at least 12 years prior to my final diagnosis, I had Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery 4 years after my initial and correct diagnosis in 2012. By that time, I was so ready for the procedure that I literally hopped on the operating table and said, “Let’s do this!” The neurosurgery was a ten-hour surgery with me awake during most of it. I was the first patient in South Texas to receive advanced Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery. Even after approaching the sixth year post-op, family support, following science, faith, and the core ethics my parents taught me keep me alive and well today.

I retell this brief story of my journey with Parkinson’s Disease, because in retrospect, I do not think I would be alive today if my parents hadn’t taught me “An Iron Clad Work Ethic,” “Pick Yourself up my Your Bootstraps,” and ” Don’t Have a Pity Party.” These core phrases along with the wonderful example they taught me through living these traits themselves have saved my life, my family, and my faith.

The medical community looks at my case as a miraculous oddity, one that still shouldn’t keep continuing at this level of success, but it does. I know I am living, operating, and still working full-time on borrowed time. Love you, Mom and Pop. Thank you for teaching me to Never Give Up.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

February 10, 2023

Reality--Anti-Fascism or Fascism

Next Post

February 14, 2023 Why I Would Rather be a Democrat Than Stand with Fascism--Another Reason I Shifted

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2026 March 2026 January 2026 December 2025 July 2025 May 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz