Military veteran embraces new service of helping others after his Parkinson’s diagnosis : There is hope’ [Video]

After 17 years of serving his country, Mark Kelm is now providing a different type of service: He’s advocating for others who, like him, are living with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Kelm, who lives in a small Minnesota town with his wife of 23 years and three children, was just 38 years old when he was diagnosed with PD, a nervous system disorder that causes tremors, stiffness, loss of balance and other movement issues.

He credits his military background for preparing him for this latest challenge.

WHAT IS PARKINSON’S DISEASE? SYMPTOMS, CAUSES, WAYS TO COPE WITH DIAGNOSIS

“I believe the times that I had in the military really prepared me to handle living with a disease like Parkinson’s — knowing how to adapt and overcome in any given circumstance,” he told Fox News Digital in an interview. 

“And I think those life skills that I learned in the Army are still quite useful today.”

Surprise diagnosis

Raised by a police deputy and a nurse, Kelm said …