Newark Woman Uses Gift Of Hope To Fight Parkinson’s Disease

NEWARK, NJ — Susan O’Rourke has a gift: she can see hope where others see depression. Now, the president of Newark-based nonprofit Artfront Galleries is harnessing that ability to find a new pathway forward from her battle with Parkinson’s disease.

O’Rourke, an expert at the “business of art,” has spent the past several years helping to coordinate pop-up installations in empty storefronts across Newark. Her efforts have shone a spotlight on some historically underappreciated areas of the city, such as the Lower Broadway neighborhood.

Like many other nonprofits in New Jersey, Artfront Galleries has since pivoted to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, setting up a virtual gallery that can be accessed online.

O’Rourke has also learned the value of adaptation while living with Parkinson’s disease, a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement and often includes tremors.

Her diagnosis came about five years ago – just after she joined Artfront Galleries and met her future husband, Timothy Dingman, the group’s founder.

O’Rourke said that in hindsight, she realizes she’d likely suffered from the disease for several years without knowing it. It had all been adding up over the years: shoulder troubles, a stiffness in her left hand, occasionally dragging her left foot.

After visiting a local neurologist, she began taking medication to help control her symptoms, but the side effects were “difficult.” She found herself constantly tired, but ironically, also suffered from insomnia. Eventually, it began to lead to substantial weight gain and depression.

But instead of “resigning herself to her diagnosis,” O’Rourke redoubled her efforts to transform her health through healthy eating and exercise. She changed her diet, took up yoga and started walking three miles a day, losing 60 pounds in the process.

She also decided it was time to find a neurologist that specialized in movement disorders, settling on Elana Clar of the North Jersey Brain and Spine Center. In September, O’Rourke underwent a surgery called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) with the aid of neurosurgeon Hooman Azmi, who placed deep brain stimulating electrodes in the affected area of her brain.

As a result, O’Rourke can cope with her tremors using an iPhone-like remote control that connects wirelessly to her “pacemaker.” Now, the community activist says that she’s looking forward to many quality years to come.

And that’s good news for Newark’s arts community.

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