Dear Roberta,
You are so right -- it isn't one disease per person. I am 47 years
old, never smoked a day in my life, but I have chronic bronchitis. For the
past five years, I have had to take Prednisone, which caused cataracts,
osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and diabetes. I had cataract surgery in
both eyes at the age of 45. Plus the PD. I'm not complaining. I think of
it this way, "God doesn't give us more than we can handle." Maybe us
"multiple-diseased" people are the strong ones who God sees fit to handle
it. Maybe we give others hope. I hope so. --Katie from El Campo
-----Original Message-----
From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Roberta Innarella
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2003 8:41 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Nursing Home for PWP/or suicide
Hi Ray, I tend to be in total agreement with you. My father had PD. When
it
started we're not sure. He always said he was "strong like bull" so maybe
he
didn't want to acknowledge any symptoms. He was formally diagnosed around
1997/98. Unfortunately, my parents lived in Tennessee so I only got to see
them once a year. I'm in NJ. Fortunately, my brother was nearby. On Oct
27, 2000 he fell and broke his hip. Had a hip replacement. Went to
HealthSouth for physical therapy and never made it home. I saw him a month
before he died and it was the most pathetic thing I ever saw. I guess he
gave up. My mother stopped all blood transfusions, no feeding tube, no
antibiotics (they both had living wills). He fell asleep for a few days and
died with my mother by his side. Peacefully. She died 363 days later from
heart complications. They were so devoted to each other. Something you
don't see much of these days. As caretaker I saw what my mother went
through
and the heartache she suffered. We spoke often on the phone. I'm 52 and 3
neuros have told me I have PD. I'm seeing a movement disorder specialist at
Robert Wood Johnson next month and hope I can get a formal diagnosis. I'm
scared. I sometimes secretly hope that my endometrial cancer will come back
and I'll succumb to that or maybe the cardiomyopathy that I was diagnosed
with in 1994 will wipe me out fast and painlessly. I thought it was one
disease per person. Guess not. Life is not fair. Good luck to you and God
Bless. If you want to talk more, please contact me. Roberta
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