Parkinson ’ s Survivor Turns Artwork Into Therapy, Business

MILLBURY (CBS) – His artwork came out of boredom, but turned into therapy and is now a business for a Millbury man with a serious illness. Mike Wackell has Parkinson’s, a progressive disease that causes tremors and stiffness. Those problems affect his right side, and Mike is right handed. But he’s figured out a way to move forward with beautiful results. Mike Wackell has run a successful home improvement business called Wackell Interior Renovations for more than 30 years. “And I’m right handed.  I make my living with my hands,” he said. But now he’s working with his left hand. “In 2012, I started to have rigidity on my right side,” Mike said. Mike Wackell suffers from Parkinson’s disease. His artwork came out of boredom, but turned into therapy and is now a business. (WBZ-TV) That’s when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease which causes tremors in his right hand and leg. “At first, it took away the person I used to be.  Now, I’ve recaptured who I am, and have an understanding of who I am,” he said. His artwork is part of that. After teaching himself to use his left hand for his carpentry, he decided he needed to do more. “I can’t sit here and watch TV. I’ve got to do something creative to get my mind off this,” he recalled. So Mike bought his first watercolor kit. “I said, ‘I’m going to teach myself, come hell or high water,'” h...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Boston News Health Syndicated Local Mike Wackell Millbury Parkinson's Disease Source Type: news