It was 2019. On the advice of an eagle-eyed friend, Jerome Sanoner consulted a neurologist and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Fraught with disbelief, he sought out a second opinion while back in France for a holiday, but nothing changed.
The onset came out of left field as Sanoner had always been fit as a flea, regularly partaking in adrenaline-rich activities like diving and skiing. “There was nothing to be worried about. Not even cholesterol,” says the 62-year-old, who quickly found himself depressed.
“After living in Singapore for 25 years and working hard to run my business, I’d pictured retiring in a peaceful and comfortable retreat somewhere in the region. All my retirement plans were derailed.”
Along with the uncertainty was the urgency to make life adjustments, particularly since he was prescribed a drug that patients typically respond well to for only four to eight years. While Parkinson’s Disease is not fatal, its common symptoms are shakiness, slowness, stiffness and instability, all of which invariably affect quality of life.
With a wrench thrown into the works, Sanoner sold his company, got married in the middle of the pandemic, and moved from a freehold apartment to a leasehold one next to the sea. He also picked up boxing after learning that the sport enhances motor and cognitive syndromes. Albeit “nervous” at first because of the its controversial nature, he decided to take up the gauntlet with the encouragement of Ruchdi Hajjar, founder of the Ring Boxing Community.
“Ruchdi said to me, ‘boxing is not a violent game’ and now, I agree. In fact, my biggest challenge was picking up skipping at 60.” Regular practice, on top of running and strength training, has enabled him to lower the dosage of his medication. Last year, his grit was recognised by financial institution SGMC Capital when he won the Inspirational Fighter of the Year Award.
“I have no idea what Parkinson’s has in store for me. I still don’t know.”
Jerome Sanoner on living with uncertainty
Thankfully, his wife Susan has been the rock of Gilbraltor through his battle, inspiring him to focus on the positive and devoting resources to managing his condition. She has also gotten behind his endeavour to run a boxing programme with Parkinson’s Disease-specific drills, especially after the couple realised there are none here though there are more than 1,000 dedicated venues in the United States.
The plan was curtailed when Covid happened but is resuming now that things are back to normal. “Every Friday, three of us living with Parkinson’s train with a coach. It’s like a support group without getting all ‘feely’ about the disease. We just train, have fun and encourage one another,” he lets on.
Sanoner also hopes that patients will receive improved support, noting that in some countries, there are Parkinson’s expert centres located inside large hospitals, medical universities, and research centres.
“It’d be very encouraging to see a patient-centric model implemented in Singapore,” he says, pointing out that these institutions customise road maps for patients with the help of neurologists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, and psychologists.
His advice for anyone living with the disease? Avoid head injuries and keep away from toxins like pesticides and heavy metals. Additionally, if you show two out of the four symptoms, listen to your doctor. But before anything else, lead a holistic lifestyle.
“At any point of time in the disease’s progression, I’d advocate for a healthy lifestyle, including getting lots of exercise, eating a balanced diet, practising meditation and mindfulness, and leading an active social life.”
Art Director: Ed Harland
Videographer: Alicia Chong
Photographer: Mun Kong
Photographer’s assistant: Ren Jie Teo
Hair & Makeup: Aung Apichai
