My Journey

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

Thanks for coming along on my journey.

My name is Mason Ellenberger and I want to share my story with you in the hopes that it may provide a source of healing and peace.

Seven years ago I was running half marathons and was in the best shape of my life; then the pain started. It started in my legs, then my feet and then my hands. I soon would find out that I had Rheumatoid Arthritis. Skip ahead to three years ago when a new journey began. I started to have severe neck pain after a fall. Three surgeries and two fusions later I found myself in constant pain. I then started having problems with my lower back. I have since had three surgeries and one fusion on my lower back.

If living in constant pain weren’t enough, I soon would realize I was going to have to give up my career and go on disability as I could no longer perform my duties on all of the pain meds. This was the most difficult decision I have ever had to make.

So two years in fighting for disability benefits I finally got a court date for my appeal. Several months earlier some family members started noticing I was having some symptoms and encouraged me to see a neurologist. After a couple months of visits and testing, I got my diagnosis; Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease. Are you kidding me? Like I didn’t have enough to deal with, I was just handed a diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease with no cure that would slowly destroy my body and my mind. I was only 47 years old. The only good news that came out of all of this is I got approved for disability benefits.

So why am I starting this blog? I want to share what I have gone through and what I deal with on a daily basis and possibly provide some hope to others out there that are suffering.