As News 12 celebrates World Parkinson’s Day, a New York couple has found different holistic methods to cope, care and create a new life around one partner’s early onset of Parkinson’s disease.  

Carol Enseki and Bull Fulbrecht have been married for 30 years. In 2000, Enseki was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at just 47 years old.  

Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes uncontrollable movements like shaking, stiffness and difficulty with balance and coordination. It can impact speech and talking as it progresses. 

Enseki says that she has turned to music, dancing, breathing and movement exercises to help fight back against her Parkinson’s – even opting to undergo deep brain stimulation surgery recently to mitigate her symptoms.  

Enseki doesn’t only credit those exercises and surgery for her new life she’s created around her Parkinson’s disease. She and Fullbrecht are also members of the Mark Morris Dance Center’s Dance for PD program.  

“The last 20 years of Parkinson’s research has shown that exercise is one of the most effective ways to slow the progression of the disease,” said David Leventhal, program director of the Dance for PD program. “People with Parkinson's - so much is taken from them including the ability to express themselves - including the ability to control their bodies they may have a month ago so dance gives them back ownership." 

Leventhal helped found the program back in 2001 to give those with the disease a space to move freely while being surrounded by those who understand.  

The Dance for PD classes are free and available in all five boroughs – a program that Bill Fulbrecht and Carol Enseki say has changed their lives.