Hi! Linda, Gail and David's wife:
    After reading your mutual encouraging and inspiring thoughts about being
a PWP at such a young tender age with much to look forward to in your life,
I feel I am very lucky that I developed recognizable PD symptoms at a very
late stage in my life (at 68) although I had some symptoms as early as my
twenties.  I guess my PD is  a slowpoke variety.  Even then, it came a shock
to realize that one has PD. I went through severe stages of denial.  And
then I learned that life is not to be spent worrying about something that I
cannot avoid. If I can summmarise the attitude I have taken, it is well put
in the title of Dr. Abraham Lieberman's book on PD:  "Shaking up Parkinsons.
Living like a tiger and thinking like a fox!"  Don't ever give up the hope.
Defeatist mentality breeds defeat and grief.  Try to make the best of what
you have.  You will be glad you did.  I am reminded of a saying, "God helps
those who help themselves."  Here at the forum everybody helps everybody!
What a beautiful feeling!
    Hang in there!
    Raj
    [log in to unmask]
*********************

----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda J Herman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: Intro/response to David


> Welcome to our new list members,
> David, i've been trying to write a helpful response to your letter. I was
> about your wife's age when diagnosed, and although we didn't have young
> children, we had two teenagers to deal with (another story!!). I also
> freaked out when i heard the doctor say - "I think you have Parkinson's
> Disease" and also worried about being able to be a good parent.
>  I think Gail's reply says just about everything i would say. Thanks Gail
> - It's reassuring to me also, diagnosed 6 years ago, to hear from someone
> like you who has been livinig with PD for 13 years.
>
> I'll just add that the most important words for me to hear from my
> husband after my diagnosis was that our life and future might be
> different from what we had planned, but that we would still have a future
> together. I  also had to come to understand for myself that i was still
> the same person despite having Parkinson's, and that i could go on with a
> meaningful life. That realization did not come overnight - it was a long
> process. You have to be patient.
>
> Being on the Parkinsn list helped me get through the early diagnosis days
> and still makes a tremendous difference in coping day to day. I hope your
> wife reads the messages- even if she doesn't post anything
> yet. And she should feel free to contact people off-list if she would
> like to write to people individually, who are going through or were going
> through similar experiences.
> It took a number of years until i could feel comfortable attending a
> support group meeting in person - I was afraid to see people at more
> advanced stages - but when i finally did - it helped me a lot (thanks to
> the great people in the Parkinson's Wellness Group of Western New York).
>
> As Gail wrote, kids do adjust and often learn to be stronger and more
> caring people by growing up with a parent with Parkinson's. The  APDA
> Young Onset Information and Referral Center recently published a book for
> children about PD - My Mommy has PD by Jan Quist- you can order it by
> calling the center at 800-223-9776 .
>
> Being proactive and getting involved in Parkinson's advocacy has also
> been a great help in coping with the disease. You'll see messages about
> upcoming issues on the list. Also see the PAN website -
> www.parkinsonsaction.org  and the GrassRootsConnection -
> www.grassrootsconnection.com  to find out what we can all do to help end
> PD.
>
> Best wishes,
> Linda Herman
>
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