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There is an old story about a preacher who ascended the pulpit and delivered a very moving sermon. The entire congregation, save one person, was moved to tears. After things had calmed down a bit the holdout was asked why he too had not been moved to tears. "I am not from this congregation", he said. That little anecdote goes a long way to explaining why people who don't have PD or are not caregivers have difficulty understanding why we can get so wrought up about stem cell research or other things that appear obscure, arcane and esoteric. It is because we live in hope that the causes will be discoveredand cures developed. For myself, I am optimistic that the causes will be discovered in my lifetime. But what are we to do in the meantime? We must offer the best palliative care possible. (Palliativecare is often mistakenly equated with terminal care. The New Shorter Oxford Dictionary defines palliate as : "Alleviate the symptoms of a disease without effecting a cure; relieve or ease suffering"). Chris van der Linden has argued very persuasively the case that neurosurgery is the best palliative care available. Having had a pallidotomy six yearsago and DBS five years ago, I agree. I have had a second chance at life. Without neurosurgery I would likely be dead. We must lobby for more neurosurgeons!