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I couldn't have said it better myself, Linda. Speaking as
an R.N., I would like to add that Cheadle's co-workers are
remarkably well-informed about the disease. I was a
psychiatric nurse for 20 years in a field where our
business is the brain, and no one seemed to notice my slow
slide into PD. It took my (then) teen-aged son to voice
what I was trying to deny when he said, "Mom, you look like
you have Parkinson's." I also felt the portrayal of
differing staff attitudes towards a "disabled" health care
colleague was realistic. Sadly enough, in my case I found
nursing administration to be the least well-informed and
the least supportive.
Carole Hercun

--- Linda J Herman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Welcome to the parkinsn list Sandy.
> The ER storyline has spurred an interesting discussion.
> My 2 cents worth
> -
>
> I thought the first episode was better, but throughout
> both of them Don
> Cheadle's portrayal was extraordinary. It seemed at times
> like i was
> watching myself. And for the general public whose image
> of PWP is often
> of a senior citizen with shaky hands - ER is presenting
> an education
> about young onset Parkinson's and all it's
> manifestations. How many other
> people knew about or have witnessed dyskinesia or
> freezing before?
> It also didn't seem to me that they were minimizing the
> toll PD takes on
> the ability to work. Looking at Cheadle's face and the
> reactions of those
> around him - you could see the struggle he is going
> through.
>
> The destruction of  our ability to earn a living, of our
> careers and our
> working identities  is among  the cruelest blows  PD
> inflicts on young
> onset patients. And there are two sides to the problem.
> As stated earlier
> --  PWP should not be denied disability benefits  by the
> government or
> insurance companies due to ignorance about the diseaase.
> Those making
> decisions on our disability claims and politicians who
> set national
> policies as well, must be educated to understand all of
> the physical and
> cognitive symptoms of PD and their impact on an
> indivdiual's ability to
> work. They also need to understand that PD symptoms and
> its progression
> are very different for each PWP.
>
> At the same time there are PWP who are able to continue
> working many
> years past their diagnosis. We should have the  right to
> work -- with
> accomodations if needed, and we should be protected
> against
> discrimination by  the ADA (in the U.S.)  It's not
> uncommon for PWP,
> after revealing their PD diagnosis to their employers, to
> soon be shown
> out the door . Or their jobs made so stressful and
> difficult that they
> have no choice but to quit.  The decision on how long we
> are able to work
> often depends not only on the progression of the disease,
> but also on the
> support offered by  our employers, supervisors, and
> co-workers.
>
> All in all, I think these ER episodes are helping to
> educate the public
> about  PD and increasing awareness - and that can only
> help all of us.
> Don Cheadle is supposedly not going to be a regular - he
> is only
> scheduled for 4 episodes - i have a hunch on how his
> story line is going
> to end , but let's wait and see.....
>
> Linda Herman
>
>
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