Ivan and them tough, gutsy folks from down Maine way. Your state may be on the small size, but in in MY eyes, you walk with the giants! WAY TO GOOOO!!!
Love to each of ya...
Barb Mallut
[log in to unmask]
---- Original Message -----
From: Ivan M Suzman
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2002 7:55 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Parkinson's Community REJOICING - Resolution PASSES/ TEXT follows
Dear Gerry, Debra, Rayilyn, Maxine,
Don McK, janet p., and many more...
"Parkinson's WAVE Sweeps Capitol"
Please celebrate with this PWP,
who rolled around the Capitol , in a
wheelchair, and witnessed his Resolution
getting UNANIMOUS SPONSORSHIP in
the House. It was passed there at 10:03 AM, and
as Supplemental paper #9, under the gavel,
in the Senate, yesterday at 1:25 PM.
Here is my text, as accepted.
Governor King's aide Colleen, hearing of the Parkinson's
wave that swept the Capitol, is offering a meeting
to us to talk about budget proposals!
PLEASE note especially, with special reference
to funding needs, paragraph 6.
God bless you alll- I felt that I was backed, even
though I was the only PWP out there.
Ivan Suzman
Portland, Maine
52-39-36
American Parkinson Disease Association
Volunteer Liaison to the Maine Legislature
House Paper 1710 JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING PARKINSON'S
DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH
WHEREAS, Parkinson's Disease, or Paralysis Agitans, is a tragic,
progressive disease of the brain and spinal cord . Although it usually
affects adults over 40 years of age, it can occur in any of 3 forms:
Later-life Parkinson's Disease; Young-onset Parkinson's disease, which
affects adults under 40 years of age; and Juvenile-onset Parkinson's
disease, which affects children and teenagers; and
WHEREAS, Parkinson's Disease often takes a devastating emotional,
social, psychological, physical and financial toll on its patients, as
well as on their families and friends; and
WHEREAS, Parkinson's Disease appears eventually in approximately one of
4 persons older than 80 years of age, in one of 10 persons older than 60
years of age, and in a significant number of people under 35 years of
age; and
WHEREAS, according to the American Parkinson Disease
Association, there are an estimated 1,500,000 people in the United States
who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, of which an estimated
7,000 or more are living in the State of Maine. There are likely to be
as many as another 1,500,000 unknown, uncounted peoplewith Parkinson's
Disease who have never seen a neurologist, bringing Maine's estimated
numbers towards 15,000 or more persons, many of whom are thought to have
a supposedly normal "shaking palsy"; and
WHEREAS, there are an estimated 60,000 new patients
diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease annually in the United States, one
every 9 minutes, or 6 new patients every hour; and
WHEREAS, Maine has no Parkinson's Disease public
education curricula or programs, no Parkinson's-oriented human services,
no established medical specialist clinics , no medical specialist
educators, no adult care programs, no mobile diagnostic teams, no human
services specialists,no police or fire department education programs,no
justice and courtroom personnel training, no ambulance or rescue worker
training courses,no adapted housing units, no long-term home-care
planners, no counselling and support specialists, particularly for the
financially needy and the people affected by Parkinson's Disease who
reside alone, despite pressing need statewide; and
WHEREAS many people with Parkinson's Disease encounter
precarious legal and personal situations when they are mistakenly thought
to be under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs or alcohol,
due to the their unusual movement and gait patterns; and
WHEREAS, Parkinson's Disease causes a loss of cell function deep within
the brain,and it is currently an incurable brain disorder of unknown
origin that disrupts and can end the lives of those who suffer from it:
and
WHEREAS, the visible symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, which are
tremors, slowness of movement, shuffling gait, difficulty with balance,
malfunction of vocal cords, lessened facial expression, and the internal
problems, including changes in blood pressure, hypothermia, loss of
visual and auditory reflexes, urinary and kidney-related difficulties and
brain chemistry disruptions causing emotional changes, are often mistaken
as a normal part of the aging process; and
WHEREAS, medications can only control some of the symptoms of
Parkinson's Disease and only for uncertain periods of time; and
WHEREAS, there is a great need for further training and education in the
medical and legal professions to protect the rights of persons with
Parkinson's Disease; and
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need for a Parkinson's Disease clinic in
Maine to give patients easier access to specialists in Parkinson's
Disease, and to provide more effective support programs and services to
Parkinson's Disease patients and their caregivers and families; and
WHEREAS, increased research is needed to help find more effective
treatments and ultimately to find a cure for Parkinson's Disease; and
WHEREAS, full implementation of federal law, the Morris K. Udall
Parkinson's Disease Research Act of 1997, which directs the National
Institutes of Health to spend up to $100,000,000 annually on Parkinson's
Disease research, needs continued support; and
WHEREAS, April 11th has been proclaimed World Parkinson's Disease Day, a
day for all to recognize the need for fundamental research, and to
provide the public with new, open channels of help as they battle against
the devastating effects of Parkinson's Disease; and
WHEREAS, the leading public officials of the State and leading medical
educators in the State's medical community are now called upon to aid in
reversing the invisibility and virtual voicelessness of its citizens
suffering from Parkinson's Disease; and
WHEREAS, three prominent North Americans, Muhammad Ali,
Michael J. Fox and former Attorney-General Janet Reno, who are afflicted
with Parkinson's DIsease, are perhaps the only recognized and publicly
known Parkinson's Disease advocates appearing in the media;
now, therefore, be it RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One
Hundred and Twentieth Legislature, now assembled in the Second Regular
Session, recognize the month of April as Parkinson's Disease Awareness
Month throughout the State; and be it further
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated
by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Maine Parkinson Society
, the Maine Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association, and
the state's Board of Licensure in Medicine.
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