Fifty-four-year-old Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) has had a notable career. She has served in Virginia’s state Senate (2014-2019) and since 2020 has served in the United States Congress representing Virginia’s 10th Congressional District.
On Tuesday, Wexton posted a video announcing that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
Wexton made the announcement on World Parkinson’s Day. In her video post, in which one could observe a slightly irregular speech pattern, the courageous representative said: “If there’s a thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on, it’s that Parkinson’s Disease sucks.”
Wexton added: “Today, on ‘World Parkinson’s Day,’ I’m here to tell you that I have come to learn this firsthand. And that’s because I’ve learned that I, too, have Parkinson’s, or what some people call PD for short.”
Wexton noted that she now joins the more than 960,000 Americans diagnosed with Parkinson’s (PD). With a hint of a smile, she shared that she now joins PD patients Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali, and like them, she is a fighter.
The National Institute on Aging reported that 90% of Parkinson’s patients are over 60 years old and that the disease, which causes uncontrollable shaking, results when “degenerated nerve cells fail to produce dopamine.”
On World Parkinson’s Day, Wexton took the opportunity to help educate Americans on the disease. She shared: “A diagnosis of PD is often misunderstood, so I’d like to tell you what it actually is. PD is a movement disorder. It starts in the brain and affects people’s bodies in different ways.”
Wexton noted that she had experienced neurological issues for several months and that it had impacted her speech. She shared: “Over the past few months, it has primarily affected my speech and how my mouth moves. You may notice I speak more quickly now. It also has affected how I walk and keep my balance.”
Wexton sought to assure her constituents and those suffering from the disease, saying, “Parkinson’s is not untreatable and not a death sentence. So please! You are welcome to empathize, but don’t feel sorry for me,” she said. “I’m working with my doctor on a treatment plan that addresses my symptoms.”
The congresswoman noted that she plans to adapt as necessary and continue to serve on Capitol Hill. “I’m working with my doctor on a treatment plan,” she said, adding, “I’ve been feeling good and staying strong.”