DIANA: What was the first thing that you noticed was going on with your body?
BUBBA: In 2002, when I rolled over in the bed at night, my arm would shake and then my right pinkie was shaking. Then in 2006, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
DIANA: When you were diagnosed and you got home, that day, how did you feel?
BUBBA: Overwhelmed, scared. I can remember telling everybody I won't be here much longer.
DIANA: And you said, “I'm going to be in a wheelchair. This is awful.” We knew nothing about Parkinson's disease, but the Parkinson's Foundation helped us.
BUBBA: 20 years later, I'm still here. It's not a death sentence.
DIANA: There is quality of life.
BUBBA: There is quality of life.
DIANA: It's a journey we never anticipated, but we learned how to live with it for 20 years because I think humor — you and I laugh all the time. I recall when you were dreaming and you kind of flailed out and —
BUBBA: You said, "You hit me in my eye."
DIANA: Yeah, you hit me but good. And I saw stars and I thought, you broke my nose. When you say Parkinson's, everyone thinks tremors right away. You don't have tremors. You have a lot of non-motor symptoms. What are they?
BUBBA: The masked face — that's why you can't smile like you should because it's muscle related. I have several problems with my bladder control and constipation. Dry mouth feels like a ball of cotton in your mouth.
DIANA: Lack of sleep. It's been seven, eight, nine years, long time since you've really had a good night's sleep. I’ll try to help you turn over or get up out of the bed, and it will change for me. I’m scared to death of that, but our kids are very engaged in everything that we do with Parkinson’s. They volunteer at the events, they openly talk to people. I remember you and Josh went to the Atlanta Braves, and you were walking up the hill and somebody yelled out “Look at that drunk man” —
BUBBA: Old man.
DIANA: Oh, “drunk old man.” And Josh turned around, and in front of a hundred people, said, “He’s not drunk, he has Parkinson’s.” Good for him to tell everybody because intoxication is one of the biggest things, especially when you get into the hospital. God forbid you have an accident, they don’t know you have Parkinson’s, the slurred speech. The doctors can’t get over that you’re drunk.
BUBBA: Most people don’t want you to know they have Parkinson’s. They are ashamed of themselves.
DIANA: And I know for you it’s painful, but you inspire me. That’s why we just need to keep sharing over and over. It’s a calling because we have to educate so many people about a disease where more and more people are going to be diagnosed. But don’t be ashamed. We have our work cut out, but I love you.
BUBBA: Love you, too.