Recent graduate, Jordan Webb, has had to cope with much more than just exam stress and coursework deadlines at university
Going to university normally marks the start of an exciting, new chapter in life – with all its highs and lows. But for 21-year-old Jordan Webb, life at the University of Manchester meant having to overcome more lows than your average student. On top of all the usual exam stress, all-nighters and demanding socialising duties, Jordan had to deal with Parkinson’s disease. Speaking just days after his graduation ceremony, he opens up about the lack of Parkinson’s support groups for young patients like himself, handling shaky social situations and dedicating his final year project to improving the lives of Parkinson’s patients – and he still plans go back and do it all again.
When did you first notice something was wrong?
I first noticed that something was wrong about four years ago when I was studying for my A-Levels. My writing was getting smaller, and I seemed to have a slight tremor in my right hand that increased when I was nervous. I also began to notice that the grip on my pen was tighter making it really difficult for me to write long sentences. I also developed a little bit of a stutter and began to notice that people were misunderstanding what I was saying.