Photo Caption: Available now at GrayStrong.org, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, Project Dopa marks a new chapter in Aquino’s mission to help individuals #MoveForwardWithParkinsons. The novel builds on years of community advocacy through the Gray Strong Foundation, which provides medical resources, exercise programs, and emotional support for Parkinson’s patients and their families.
New Novel from Gray Strong Foundation Founder Blends Fiction, Science, and Hope to Reimagine What It Means to Live with Parkinson’s
EASTON, Pa., – When EMT and Parkinson’s advocate Eric Aquino was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 40, he never imagined his journey would inspire a dystopian thriller. Yet with the release of his debut novel, Project Dopa, Aquino channels his experience on the front lines of both emergency medicine and chronic illness into a story that redefines resilience.
Set in a near-future New York ravaged by a global outbreak, Project Dopa follows Alex, an EMT whose Parkinson’s-like condition becomes both a curse and a key to humanity’s survival. As Alex discovers his strange immunity to the virus devastating humanity, he embarks on a journey that blurs the line between illness and empowerment. Through this gripping narrative, Aquino blends the pulse of a medical thriller with the heart of a survivor’s memoir.
“Project Dopa is a mirror,” said Aquino. “It reflects the unseen battles so many of us face every day with Parkinson’s. Dopamine may be depleted, but hope doesn’t have to be. Purpose and power can grow even in darkness.”
A first-generation American and founder of the Gray Strong Foundation, Aquino has become one of the nation’s most visible voices for early-onset Parkinson’s awareness. Recently honored alongside Viola Davis at the HollyRod Foundation’s Design Care event and recognized by the City of Bethlehem for expanding Parkinson’s resources across the Lehigh Valley, Aquino continues his mission through the Gray Strong Foundation, which connects families with medical resources, exercise programs, and emotional support while promoting the movement to #MoveForwardWithParkinsons.
Through his podcast, @TremblingEMT, and outreach initiatives such as Coloring Outside the Symptoms, a therapeutic coloring book series, and the bilingual Hispanic Parkinson’s health pamphlet, Parkinson Positivos: Juntos en el camino de vivir bien con Parkinson, Aquino continues to break stigmas and create resources for underrepresented communities. Eric has been named the EMT Educator for the 6th World Parkinson Congress, taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, in May 2026. He is also a proud ambassador for the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
“Project Dopa is more than a thriller,” said Polly Dawkins, Executive Director of the Davis Phinney Foundation, who wrote the book’s foreword. “Eric Aquino takes us on a journey that is as imaginative as it is deeply personal. On the surface, it’s a gripping thriller about pandemics and survival. But look closer, and you’ll find a story about resilience, connection, and living with Parkinson’s.”
Project Dopa is available for purchase at:
· GrayStrong.org
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Project-Dopa-Eric-Aquino/dp/B0FPZTGMJ9
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/project-dopa-eric-aquino/1148217265
About Eric Aquino
Eric Aquino is a first-generation American and Lehigh Valley-based EMT whose journey with early-onset Parkinson’s has inspired advocacy, education, and creativity. Founder of the Gray Strong Foundation and ambassador for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Aquino has been recognized by the HollyRod Foundation, the City of Bethlehem, and major Parkinson’s organizations including PMD Alliance, Davis Phinney Foundation, and APDA. His mission is to help people #MoveForwardWithParkinsons through resources, storytelling, and community connection.
About Gray Strong Foundation
Gray Strong Foundation helps individuals #MoveForwardWithParkinsons by providing medical and program resource support for Parkinson’s patients and their families. Founded by local EMT and Parkinson’s advocate Eric Aquino, the foundation raises awareness and funding through educational events, community partnerships, and its digital platform @TremblingEMT. Visit GrayStrong.org for more information.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Affecting an estimated one million Americans and ten million worldwide, Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control, as well as non-motor symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and fatigue. While there is currently no cure, ongoing research and advocacy continue to improve quality of life and expand treatment options. Visit Parkinson.org for more information.
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