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At 22:39 2001/06/11 -0230, Anne Rutherford wrote: > Is Kindness helping our Cause? > > >by Anne Rutherford. Feb 2001 It appeared first in the Newfoundland >Parkinson News, our provincial newsletter. > >When we put a good face on Parkinson's, because we don't want to be >labeled a whiner, are we really making things worse? > >When we advise a Young Onset Parkinson Person (YOPP) not to attend a >Parkinson group, because of what they may see, are we just showing our >own fears? > >When we hide at home, avoiding new places and new people, are we letting > >Parkinson's win by default? > >In a recent survey more than 90% recognized Parkinson's as a medical >condition. Great!! > >However fewer than 10% of those interviewed were aware of how >debilitating Parkinson symptoms can be. > >Are people with Parkinson's invisible? Well, if you can't talk and >can't move, you might as well not be there. > >Sudden immobility would be noticed but Parkinson's sneaks up when you >are not looking and takes away your ability to communicate. Handwriting > >and speech are affected. Then facial expression disappears.......even a >smile is too difficult. Driving is no longer safe as vision and >reaction time deteriorate. Aches and pains, cramps and falls keep you >close to home. > >You have become an invisible person. > >Are we watering down the message out of consideration for the YOPPs? I >think we are. > >Speaking as a former YOPP I think we should tell it like it is. Now. > > > > > Is Kindness helping our Cause? > > >by Anne Rutherford. Feb 2001 It appeared first in the Newfoundland >Parkinson News, our provincial newsletter. > >When we put a good face on Parkinson's, because we don't want to be >labeled a whiner, are we really making things worse? > >When we advise a Young Onset Parkinson Person (YOPP) not to attend a >Parkinson group, because of what they may see, are we just showing our >own fears? > >When we hide at home, avoiding new places and new people, are we letting > >Parkinson's win by default? > >In a recent survey more than 90% recognized Parkinson's as a medical >condition. Great!! > >However fewer than 10% of those interviewed were aware of how >debilitating Parkinson symptoms can be. > >Are people with Parkinson's invisible? Well, if you can't talk and >can't move, you might as well not be there. > >Sudden immobility would be noticed but Parkinson's sneaks up when you >are not looking and takes away your ability to communicate. Handwriting > >and speech are affected. Then facial expression disappears.......even a >smile is too difficult. Driving is no longer safe as vision and >reaction time deteriorate. Aches and pains, cramps and falls keep you >close to home. > >You have become an invisible person. > >Are we watering down the message out of consideration for the YOPPs? I >think we are. > >Speaking as a former YOPP I think we should tell it like it is. Now. > >Just a comment >Anne Rutherford, Newfoundland > yes! shame = ignorance if ya got it, flaunt it! janet janet paterson: an akinetic rigid subtype, albeit perky, parky . pd: 54/41/37 cd: 54/44/43 tel: 613 256 8340 email: [log in to unmask] . snail mail: 375 Country Street, Apt 301, Almonte, Ontario, Canada, K0A 1A0 . a new voice: the nnnewsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/janet313/ . a new voice: the wwweb site: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/ . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn