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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
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Nomi Kaltmann

My dad’s determination to choose life despite his cruel illness has taught me gratitude

An older man in a beanie laughs while playfully punching a younger man's raised, gloved fist

My dad, Max, is in his early 60s. More than 15 years ago he was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease. Since then his illness has progressed, affecting his mobility and making ordinary tasks, like walking, increasingly difficult.

My dad is softly spoken and endlessly kind but beneath his gentle exterior is a steely determination. Perhaps this comes from being the son of a sole survivor of the Holocaust. Growing up he was taught that people don’t get to choose the hardships life places before us but we can choose how we react to these challenges.

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