Sparks Mayor Geno Martini said he had held out saying anything for as long as he could but knew the time had come.
“It had to happen sooner or later,” Martini told the Sparks Tribune about his announcement that he has Parkinson’s disease. He said he was diagnosed in 2012.
Martini, the longest-serving mayor of Sparks and a life-long resident of the city, said his condition was becoming more noticeable. He’s using a walker more to get around and has become a little more unstable.
“I was blaming things on my back, which was actually true—I do have a bad back problem,” the mayor said in an interview. “But now it’s getting a little worse, and I decided it was time for me to come out and tell everybody what’s going on.”
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. Trembling is the best-known symptom of Parkinson’s, which develops gradually. The disease also causes stiffness and slowness of movement. No cure exists, but medication can lessen symptoms.
“My dad had it, and I watched him go through it. It’s not an easy thing,” Martini said.
The mayor, who said in his formal announcement that he feels great, has no intention of stepping away from City Hall.
“I’ve got three more years on my term,” said Martini, who’s been Sparks’ top elected official for 10 years. “I fully anticipate I’m going to be here long enough to do that, and I’m going to work hard at getting through it. I’ll do what I have to do to get through the next three years.”
In his self-deprecating, humorous fashion, he added: “My brain’s still working pretty good. Well, it never worked well at all. It’s not getting worse than it was, let’s put it that way.”
When his third full term expires in November 2018, Martini said he will then “hopefully walk into the sunset and retire, and that’s it.”
“Best job I’m ever going to have and the last job I’m ever going to have,” he said of his city post.
The mayor concluded his formal announcement with the following: “I love my hometown and its people, and I am grateful (for) and overwhelmed (by) everyone’s love and support.”
Carlos Benita says
I am a 51 year old female that just found out I have Parkinson’s, but I have been having signs of it for years, tremors, depression, body weakness. ECT. I honestly don’t think my doctor was reading the signs because of my gender and age. A few years ago I had my shoulder lock up on me and I was sent to a P.T since x-rays didn’t show any physical damage. My shaking was getting worse and I began falling. Only when my speech became so bad that it brought concern to my dentist was Parkinson’s even considered. He phoned my doctor with his concerns about my shaking and balance problems. By this time I was forgoing shots in the back of my neck for back and neck pain to which once again I was sent to a P.T (although x-rays showed no damage) I was told I had a few spurs which were most likely causing the pain. Here I was feeling like my whole body was falling apart and doctor could not find anything wrong, maybe in was all in my head? My doctor even seemed annoyed with me and things just kept progressing and I just kept it to myself, why bother going through testing and them finding nothing? Well, it was after my second P.T called my doctor about the weakness in my legs and arms, by this time I have developed a gait in my walk and I fell more frequently. Only then did my doctor send me to a specialist and it was found that I had Parkinson’s, and that I have had it for awhile. I think because I was a woman that my signs and symptoms weren’t taken seriously and therefor left untreated for so long,I was taking pramipexole dihydrochloride three times daily, I Was on carbidopa levodopa but only lasted 90 minutes then wore off.I found that none of the current medications worked effective for me.I got tired of using those medication so I decided to apply natural herbs formula that was prescribed to me by my second P.T, i purchase the herbal formula from totalcureherbsfoundation. com, There has been huge progression ever since I start the treatment plan which will last for 15 weeks usage.all the symptoms and sign has begin to disappear .