Apr 21, 2017 By Luke Campbell 4 min read

Walking into her first support group meeting after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Diane Dinardi’s optimism wasn’t the same a few hours later walking back out.

Sitting in between the group of older men – some in wheel chairs and others unable to speak – she walked out thinking this was what the rest of her life looked like.

Two years ago, Dinardi joined about one million Americans – 10 million people worldwide – who fight the same day-to-day battle after officially being diagnosed with the incurable disease.

Her reaction might not have been the same as many of those several million, digesting the heartbreaking news as more of a relief to finally know where the problems she previously faced were coming from.

While medication began helping the symptoms – tremors, slowness in movement, muscular rigidity and postural instability – associated with the disease, the lifelong South Hills resident was in search for something more to help her fight the battle.

“I left that first meeting sad and scared because I didn’t know if that was the only thing out there for me,” she said. “I was looking for support. I wanted information from other people who had the disease because I didn’t know much about it. It was a lovely group of people but one of the things that was missing was when I looked around the room I didn’t see anybody that really looked like me, a middle-aged woman.”

After months of thinking about the unknown, and not knowing where to turn next, Dinardi decided to take those matters of support into her own hands by creating a group to encourage, support and inspire.

Pittsburgh Women with PD, a group with now more than 20 women who meet monthly to share their experiences with the disease since February, has given Dinardi a sense of hope.

“For a couple of months I really didn’t know what to do,” she said about losing the social aspect of life after being forced to retire from her job as a high school administrator. “I had to break through eventually. That first meeting with the women to me was the most wonderful two hours.”

With no commitments required, Dinardi and the Parkinson Foundation Western PA sends out information about the meetings that consist of a lunch and are beginning to include other activities, also.

Providing friendship, camaraderie and support, the group ranging from women in their 40s into their 70s share what has worked for them during the different stages of the disease.

The Pittsburgh-area group has drawn women from surrounding areas in western Pennsylvania to attend its two meetings thus far, with another planned in early May, joins a national movement to spread information to women about the typically male-dominated disease.

“We’re not doctors and we can’t give medical advice,” Dinardi said. “What we can give is support and tips. I needed all the help I can get and know others need it, too. This disease affects everybody differently.”

The next meeting for the group is scheduled for May 12 at 12:45 p.m. when it will participate in a modified zumba class at Latin RhythmZ Studio, 5500 Steubenville Pike, McKees Rocks. A group lunch will follow. Any women interested in the group can contact info@pfwpa.org or call 412-837-2542 for more information on upcoming events.

“Parkinson’s has changed my life,” Dinardi said. “It’s given me time to meet new people and step back and look at what’s important. We all share the same thing in this group. We shake a little bit, some more than others. I feel like I could either roll over and cry or I can fight this with everything I’ve got. Every situation in life provides you with an opportunity. It’s about how you take that opportunity. I’m choosing to fight it.”