by Willie Geist
First published 2023
Blake built his career as a serial entrepreneur with relentless optimism. At 47, a doctor delivers crushing news: he has Young Onset Parkinson's Disease. The diagnosis hits like a physical blow. Blake's first instinct is complete denial, refusing to process what this means for his future. Depression follows as reality sets in. His world narrows to medical research and desperate internet searches for answers. Slowly, Blake shifts from passive victim to active fighter. He learns to share his diagnosis with loved ones and discovers an unexpected lifeline at the World Parkinson's Congress, where he connects with others facing the same battle. The meeting transforms his outlook and fills him with renewed purpose. Blake throws himself into treatment research, seeks out the best doctors, joins boxing classes designed for Parkinson's patients, and practices balance exercises. His entrepreneurial drive returns as he refuses to let the disease control his story. This dual memoir and guide reveals the raw reality of living with YOPD while showing readers how to build a meaningful life beyond any diagnosis.
Genres: medical, non-fiction, biography-memoir, health, disease, disability
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: overcoming-adversity, personal-journey
196 pages · Paperback · Linked Mind
Content warnings: depression, medical-trauma