Nancy Dickinson Personal Story

By: Nancy Dickinson

               I am a mother with 4 adult kids and 6 wonderful grandkids. Before retiring, I taught downhill skiing and ran ski racing camps, as well as taught high school full-time. I also enjoyed mountain biking and tennis.

               After retirement my husband and I travelled, then settled in Nicaragua for several years to do volunteer teaching in the local schools. However, we had to return to Canada when I began falling, losing my balance and getting very confused. The symptoms I had were similar to those my mother had before she died with what was thought to be Parkinson’s Disease and dementia. My GP told me it was aging!

                It took me a couple of years to find a neurologist who specialized in movement disorders. He diagnosed me with NPH and sent me to an amazing neurosurgeon. After receiving a programmable VP shunt, I feel like I have been given my life back. It is wonderful to be enjoying my family, walking, driving, cooking and being involved in social events again after watching my mother’s unfortunate downhill health slide and death. I feel so very fortunate to have been given a second chance to participate in the life I enjoy. 

                Many thanks to the doctors and health personnel who sty in univeristy for so long so they can identify and “fix” those of us with NPH.