Choir helps Parkinson sufferers regain their voices

By Jodie Sinnema

EDMONTON, AB – Donna Bradley used to have an authoritative
teacher’s voice.

Now, eight years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease,
her voice is so quiet that when she phoned her ex-husband after
five years, he didn’t recognize her.

“I guess it’s just losing a little bit of yourself,” said
Bradley, as she spoke about the effects of the neurodegenerative
disease that progressively steals away people’s muscle control,
balance and voice. It’s commonly associated with tremors, a
shuffling walk, a mask-like face and slow movement.

Bradley uses a cane and her face has become stiff as her body
loses the cells that contain dopamine, the chemical needed to carry
signals between nerves in the brain.

“I don’t smile. It’s an effort to smile. You have to think about
walking. You have to think about talking. You have to think about
smiling.”