Rendell, ex-Pennsylvania governor, says he has Parkinson's
Source: AP
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said Monday that he was diagnosed 3½ years ago with Parkinsons disease, but said he believes that treatment has stopped the progression of the disease and he has maintained his quality of life. The 74-year-old Rendell made the announcement at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia with officials and doctors from the University of Pennsylvania as part of a public service message to urge people who suspect they have symptoms to get diagnosed and get treatment early.
He was stunned and a little bit scared when he was diagnosed because he had always viewed himself as indestructible, he said. But Rendell said treatment at the hospital, including medication, has stopped the progression of the symptoms and that he continues to keep a busy schedule, including working out six days a week. Ive been more in a sort of battle mode than depressed, Rendell said.
Rendell said he had not wanted to reveal his condition before he was certain whether treatment at the hospital was helping him. The good news is I can say without any fear of contradiction at least in my own mind that my disease has stabilized progression has in many ways stopped, Rendell said. Some of the symptoms that I was undergoing are better now than they were 3½ years ago. His quality of life hasnt changed, he said, in terms of the things he enjoys, what he eats and where he goes.
Rendell, a Democrat, was Pennsylvanias two-term governor from 2003 through 2010. The outgoing former Philadelphia mayor with a larger-than-life persona smashed the states campaign fundraising records and went from the rough-and-tumble world of Philadelphia politics to the relatively stuffy state Capitol. He became something of a national figure as a Democratic National Committee chairman during the 2000 presidential election. As a two-term Philadelphia mayor in the 1990s, he garnered the nickname Americas mayor after getting a reputation as a cheerleader for the city who would stop at nothing to promote it. He was the citys No. 1 sports fan, even appearing as a regular on TV sports talk shows, and known for his love of indulgent foods, including cheesesteaks. A lawyer, Rendell is also a former two-term district attorney of Philadelphia.
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Had just come back from some errands and heard this on the local news radio station. All I can say is that the man has always been a wound-up ball of energy for decades. Hope the treatment continues to stabilize his condition.
As a note for LBN and "national" interest - he was the DNC chair in 2000 during the Gore/Lieberman candidacy, and most DUers know about his stints over a number of years as analyst and/or guest on MSNBC and other outlets.
RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)I know he gets ripped on here for his media appearances, but I've always liked him.
BumRushDaShow
(128,452 posts)BUT.... while he was mayor, he literally made it a point to attend every opening of a new facility and would select a city pool to show up at to "officially" open the city pools for the season, complete with a belly flop.
About 20 years ago, I actually went to the opening of Lloyd Hall, a new Philly public rec center (first brand new one to open in many years back then), located right next to the Art Museum and backing to the Schuylkill River. I had been biking along the river that day and stopped there to check it out since I heard they were having a little ceremony and free food for those who showed up, and there he was!
appalachiablue
(41,103 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,452 posts)are truly a unique group! "Fast Eddie" hasn't slowed down one iota.
appalachiablue
(41,103 posts)I'd love to see Ed and Donald go one-on-one in a debate.-that would be awesome, New York reality!
BumRushDaShow
(128,452 posts)Wish I could link the pic from the Philly Daily News article but ack!
appalachiablue
(41,103 posts)- Donald Trump, former City Rep. Kathleen Sullivan and former Philadelphia Mayor Edward Rendell.
https://www.chatsports.com/philadelphia-eagles/a/source/rendell-a-letter-to-the-president-14538317
BumRushDaShow
(128,452 posts)cause I tried searching around!!!
BigmanPigman
(51,567 posts)similar experience with him. In fact, only yesterday (really) I was telling my parents how he stopped to shake my hand. He is a good person and I always enjoy seeing him when he is a guest on MSNBC, usually with Chris Matthews.
BumRushDaShow
(128,452 posts)Oh geez... he and Tweety and Andrea Mitchell and Michael Smerconish. All the Philly crew (although I think Rendell was originally from New York).
DeminPennswoods
(15,265 posts)Buzz Bissinger's book "Prayer for the City" is a great read about Rendell's turn as mayor of Philadelphia.
BumRushDaShow
(128,452 posts)and tied a bow around himself!
Don't have to read a book about Rendell as mayor, I experienced him first hand (including as the D.A. here for 2 terms before he became mayor... ).
DeminPennswoods
(15,265 posts)but the book is still a great read. Highly recommended if you haven't read it.
BumRushDaShow
(128,452 posts)appalachiablue
(41,103 posts)"Philly Freedom," "Philadelphia Fire!," anything. It could have been great, live from studios at Independence Hall.
Ed would have blessed that, esp. since he helped promote tourism there. Last time I went was to see the Barnes Collection, always wanted to and it was wonderful. And the Flower Show, museums, more. My mother's family was from the area and traveled there still.
appalachiablue
(41,103 posts)RobinA
(9,886 posts)and met Rendell one summer weekend day at a local dog park. I was there with a friend who knew him, he was there with his dog. In a full suit and tie. Greeted my friend, who was somewhat infamous, in a very nice way. Definitely gave off a power vibe, but in a good way. Had that aura - Here's a guy who gets things done. At home in TV and limos, but not afraid to mingle with the paisans.
appalachiablue
(41,103 posts)them this way anymore, great era of powerful, smart and tough old school Democratic Party political fighters.
Rendell's governorship of Pa., and Chair of the DNC I remember well.
All the best Gov. Rendell, and stay around a long while!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Rendell
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)this challenge as all the others. So glad that drugs are currently halting progression! And what others are in the pipeline?
BumRushDaShow
(128,452 posts)it does mention his therapy -
By Ali Gorman, R.N.
Updated 27 mins ago
<...>
But he started treatment right away with physical therapy, including boxing and other workouts. His treatment also includes medication and mental exercises.
Heather Cianci, a physical therapist at Good Shepard Penn Partners said, "Because we know there is a cognitive slowness with Parkinson's, so there's a way to bring that to the forefront, stay ahead of it so we can slow it down."
There's no cure for Parkinson's but experts, such as Penn neurologist Matthew Stern, say the sooner someone is treated, the better. Governor Rendell says early treatment helped stabilize his condition.
<...>
http://6abc.com/health/former-gov-ed-rendell-announces-parkinsons-diagnosis/3616519
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)For a long time.
Cold War Spook
(1,279 posts)It is a degenerative disease. They do have medications that make it seem to be slowing down or stopping but it is not. They mask the symptoms but the disease continues on. I was diagnosed in 2005, but physically all I have is tremors in my hands because of the medications I am on. Unfortunately there is Parkinson's Disease Dementia for which there isn't any medications to mask it. Unfortunately I also have vascular dementia. That is caused by strokes that are so small I do not even know when I have one. The stroke kills brain cells. I am 74 years old, so I really can't bitch.
BumRushDaShow
(128,452 posts)You and he are the same age and I wish you both well...
Michael J. Fox, who is around my age (he is 57, I'm 56) got it when he was in his early 30s and his foundation was set up to fund research and treatments for Parkinsons...