PARKINSONZ ACEs

Adapt, Conquer, Empower Others

Meet Robert Emberly

Finding Balance After Parkinson’s

When Robert received his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2010 at age 56, it felt like the ground had shifted beneath him. The initial wave of shock and uncertainty was overwhelming, but it was quickly followed by an unexpected sense of relief. At least now, he and his wife, Susan, had an answer. It wasn’t the worst-case scenario they’d feared, like cancer or a terminal prognosis. It was a challenge, yes, but challenges had always been a part of Robert’s life.

Susan, a former psychiatric nurse, knew what Parkinson’s could bring. She’d seen its effects up close, its ability to strip away independence and dignity. But she also knew Robert better than anyone. Together, they made a decision: they would face this head-on, choosing positivity and action over despair.

The Turning Point

The first few months after the diagnosis were grueling. Robert dove into an intensive LSVT training program, working one-on-one with a therapist to build strength and resilience. When the program ended, he was sent to a Wednesday Parkinson’s exercise group.

Walking into the room, Robert was struck by what he saw: people in wheelchairs, others with walkers, all struggling to maintain their independence. Robert, on the other hand, could still jump high enough to clear the instructor’s head—a feat he often joked about.

That moment crystallized his resolve. He wasn’t going to let Parkinson’s dictate his future. He could see the road ahead if he did nothing, and he refused to go down it.

One observation stood out: everyone in the room battled with balance. For Robert, balance had always been second nature, honed through years of karate and his job working on an offshore oil platform.

On that platform, he’d learned to steady himself on the constantly shifting deck of the Terranova FPSO. Now, he turned that skill into a weapon against Parkinson’s. Every day, he went to the gym and practiced the yoga crane pose, balancing on one leg. Using the mirrored walls, he trained his eyes to guide his balance, aligning with vertical lines instead of relying on his inner ear. Over time, his calves and ankles adapted, and he rediscovered his stability.

Riding Through Life

Parkinson’s wasn’t just a physical challenge; it reshaped Robert’s entire perspective on life. Change was inevitable, but it wasn’t necessarily catastrophic. For him and Susan, it was just another stage in life, like so many others they’d navigated together.

Robert found his sanctuary on his bike rollers. Known for their difficulty, the rollers became both a physical challenge and a metaphor for his journey. He began imagining long-distance rides, first across his province, then across Canada, and eventually spanning the continent. Over the years, he modified the rollers to make them safer, adapting them to his evolving needs.

The process wasn’t without setbacks. He took his share of falls, but each one taught him something valuable. His balance improved, his proprioception sharpened, and his ability to sync his breathing with his movements became almost meditative.

Lessons for Others

Robert’s journey taught him the importance of movement, not just for the body but for the soul. His advice to others facing Parkinson’s was straightforward: find an activity you love and do it every day. Push yourself to the edge of your abilities but stay within safe boundaries, guided by your caregivers. Progress may come slowly, but it will come.

He is endlessly grateful for Susan’s support. She had seen Parkinson’s at its worst, but Robert was determined not to let her bear the full brunt of the disease. Their partnership is a cornerstone of his strength.

Moving Forward

Robert’s future is still being written. His bike rollers, now a symbol of his resilience, are part of
his daily routine and still a work in progress. Each ride is a victory, a reminder that Parkinson’s
may challenge him, but it would never define him.
Balance—both literal and metaphorical—had become his mantra. As long as he could keep
moving forward, he knew he was winning the battle.

The Questions

What was your initial response to your Parkinson’s Diagnosis?

My initial response to my diagnosis was surprise, shock, but also relief …we had
an answer…the Dr could have easily said I had cancer and had two weeks to
live. We my wife and I decided to look on the positive side.

After a three month session of LSVT 1on1 training ,I was sent to the regular
Wednesday Parkinson’s exercise group where people came in wheelchairs and
walkers…where as i could jump over any of the instructions heads…and still
can.
I decided i had to find my own path.
Diagnosis has changed my trajectory . I could see before me in that exercise
class what awaited me if I did nothing . I noticed the one thing that all of those
people had was a loss of balance. Working on an off shore floating oil platform,
(Terranova FPSO) three weeks on i went to the gym ,and every day for three
weeks I would go to the gym and practice the yoga one legged crane stance, (i
have a karate background).I learned to look into the mirrored walls and find
corisponding verticle lines of sight , instead of using my inner ear to stay
balanced, i twitched my ankle/calf, to follow what my eyes saw….it worked

PD has taken the stuffing out of my wife and I, yes things are changing, but not
so very different than others our age.

Find some kind of exercise that you are good at, do it daily at the most aggressive way that your body can handle, , In saying that don’t go outside what your caregivers advise ,but slowly go forward.

I am grateful for my wife’s support. She was a Psychiatric nurse and has seen
the brutality of PD at its worst , I wont let her face that at home.

I have developed /modified my bike rollers. Bike rollers are hard to learn, yet are perfect for early Parkinson’s . I have virtually ridden across my province, then across Canada/ the continent . Over the past four years I have made simple modifications to make them safe for me. I have had a few hard falls but my balance is great my proprioception is better than average . My relation between cadence and meditative breathing and relaxing brain tension is coming along nicely.