Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., said Tuesday that she has Parkinson’s disease. She revealed the news on World Parkinson’s Day in a video.
On #WorldParkinsonsDay, I’m here to share that I’ve been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
— Rep. Jennifer Wexton (@RepWexton) April 11, 2023
I’m doing well, and I want to bring about as much good from this diagnosis as I can—including here in Congress. pic.twitter.com/bvEwzZQbqp
“If there’s one thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on, it’s that Parkinson’s disease sucks,” said Wexton, 54, in her video on Twitter.
The third-term representative for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District said that she is “doing well” and has a positive attitude.
“I’ve got a positive attitude, and I’ve got the strong support of so many family, friends, and loved ones,” she said.
Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, according to the National Institute on Aging. Roughly 500,000 Americans have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, but the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes said experts estimate that as many as one million in the U.S. have it.
The disease has affected Wexton’s speech and how her mouth moves. She speaks faster. The illness has also affected her balance and gait.
“What Parkinson’s is not is an untreatable disease, a cognitive impairment, or a death sentence. So, please, you are welcome to empathize, but don’t feel sorry for me,” she said.
Wexton, who described herself as “a fighter,” said she wants to be a voice for everyone coping with Parkinson’s by raising awareness and fighting for a cure.
Wexton said she is working with her doctor on a treatment plan, and that she is focusing on her duties in Congress.
“I want you to know that my head and my heart are 100 percent committed to serving the people of Virginia, and especially my constituents in the 10th Congressional District,” Wexton said.
Wexton, who lives in Leesburg, has served in Congress since 2019. Before that, she was a Virginia state senator and a prosecutor.
Feature image courtesy Twitter/Jennifer Wexton
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