Overview
- John Granahan first noticed uncontrollable shaking at 13 but was told by GPs in his late teens that his tremors were caused by heavy tea drinking and was given beta blockers.
- He received a private diagnosis of early-onset Parkinson’s at age 20 and was warned he might need a wheelchair by 25, a prognosis he has since outlived.
- Now 54, Granahan remains employed and drives using hand controls while only occasionally using a walking frame and caring for his teenage daughter.
- In 2024 he underwent deep brain stimulation, a surgery that eased his tremors but worsened his balance and increased the frequency of falls.
- His story illustrates the unpredictability of Parkinson’s, the trade-offs of treatments such as medication and DBS, and the role of practical adaptations and exercise classes in preserving independence.