Michael Lu has been playing hockey since he was four. In 2018, years after being diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s, he was recognized by the Anaheim Ducks as their honorary “21st Duck” and skated onto the ice with the team at Honda Center.
Michael was diagnosed at 29, after experiencing symptoms as far back as high school. His younger brother was diagnosed even earlier, and the two have had very different experiences with the disease.
Michael still plays hockey, trains regularly, and looks for ways to keep doing the things he enjoys as Parkinson’s changes what his body can do.
In this conversation, he and Eric talk about adapting when the game plan stops working, the difficult side effects of medication, how years of sport prepared Michael for Parkinson’s, and why he no longer measures a good day by the numbers alone.
Key Takeaways
➡️ Sport gave Michael practice at adapting.
Years of swimming, hockey and snowboarding taught him not to treat mistakes as the end. When something stops working, he changes the game plan, tries another approach and keeps going.
➡️ Preparation helps, but Parkinson’s can still move the target.
Michael builds extra time, medication, food and sleep into his routine, knowing that what works one day may not work the same way the next.
➡️ The way he measures a good day has changed.
Michael pays less attention to times and more to whether he enjoyed being out there. His body may not do everything it once could, but he still puts value on what it can do.
Key Moments
00:21 Michael and his brother’s young-onset Parkinson’s diagnoses
02:53 Growing up with hockey, swimming and water polo
05:10 Staying active to keep living life as himself
06:16 Early symptoms and using medication to keep snowboarding
07:34 Seeing how far Parkinson’s had progressed while off medication
08:26 Preparing for unpredictable days with Parkinson’s
09:56 Medication side effects, dyskinesia and impulsivity
12:10 Sleepless nights, racing thoughts and the next-day impact
13:37 Two brothers, two very different experiences with Parkinson’s
16:19 Michael’s work as a school psychologist
18:42 How being an athlete prepared Michael for Parkinson’s
20:52 Focusing on what he can control
22:11 Michael’s daily routine, training and adult hockey
24:38 Training for the unexpected in sport and Parkinson’s
27:15 Why Michael decided to share his Parkinson’s publicly
28:38 Letting go of times and changing how he measures a good day
30:25 Purpose, serving others and continuing to set goals
31:12 Learning to live with discomfort instead of fighting it
Connect with Michael
Instagram: @mikeyhasparkies
Facebook: @mikeyhasparkies
YouTube: @mikeyhasparkies
TikTok: @mikeyhasparkies
About the Host
Eric Von Frohlich is a fitness entrepreneur, coach, and athlete living with Parkinson's who founded EVF Performance and Row House before his diagnosis in 2020. On the podcast he talks with athletes, experts, and people refusing to let a diagnosis be the end of the story.
Parkinson’s: An Athlete’s Journey
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Disclaimer
This podcast shares personal experience and general education, not medical advice. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to medication, treatment, or exercise.
