EDISON, N.J. (PIX11) - Singing in spite of their circumstances.
Meet Parkinsings: a choir comprised of people battling Parkinson's disease. Formed in 2019, they are a troupe of 20 patients at Hackensack Meridian Health's JFK Johnson Rehab Institute in Edison. They are among 1 million Americans fighting the neurodegenerative disease.
But as they lift their voices, they lift the burden of the disease together. Daniel Grynberg is one of its founding members.
"When I was approached some five to seven years ago, I said, 'absolutely not, I'm not a singer,'" said Grynberg, of Old Bridge, "but now I look forward to practice, I look forward to performing."
"I think music heals, music is really important for the soul," said speech pathologist and choir director Alison Chananie.
Their music creates much more than harmonies - it creates camaraderie. But more than that, Chananie says singing is actually key therapy.
"What's not really spotlit in the media is the changes in the voice, the changes in the thinking, the changes in the swallowing," said Chananie, "and that's what we're doing here. We're working to improve all of those things through singing."
The choir is being called up to the big leagues as it is set to perform the national anthem at Yankee Stadium before Friday night's game.
"Being a Yankee fan, standing on that field to sing the national anthem, it was incredible," said Donna Mastropaolo, of South Brunswick, who was part of last year's choir that performed 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at the stadium. "It was 33,000 or 35,000 people there. It gave me chills."
Friday happens to be World Parkinson's Day, a perfect time to step up to the plate and let the world hear them beat Parkinson's.
"Don't give up," said Mastropaolo. "Do what you got to do ... with a smile on your face. Mental attitude is 90% of the battle."
English (US) ·