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I admire your determination and courage to do what you are doing you are an inspiration to all parkinsons Iam a parkinson for the last ten years I have gait problems and a lower back pain ,of late iam movable in the house but i require assistance to go outdoors and I use a walking stick I am 69 years old and I lked reading your email I wish you all the Joy Peace and good health Ronald Rodrigues >From: "Nina P. Brown" <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Question from a "lurker" >Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:43:43 -0600 > >When I was diagnosed twenty one years ago my neurologist said with all the >research being done and the new drugs, that if I had to have a >neurological disease, Parkinson’s was the one to have. Am I lucky or >what? I’ve bought raffle tickets, played bingo, entered all kinds of >contests and have never won anything; but for some unknown reason my >ticket to join the Parkinson Parade was picked. And it changed my life! >For some reason, when I am asked “How Parkinson’s has affected my life, I >seem to have a problem coming up with a quick answer. I tried to figure >out why that should be such a hard question for someone who has lived with >Parkinson’s and worked for the Parkinson’s community for 21 years. >Over the years my symptoms have multiplied and worsened. Because there is >not a day that goes by that allows me to forget I have Parkinson’s, I >often reflect on a story that makes me smile and reminds me of the >difference in being a pessimist or an optimist. >A young boy, placed in a room filled full with toys, sat in the middle of >the room without touching one of them. There were so many he couldn’t >decide which to play with. A second little boy was placed in a room full >of horse manure. He dove in and tossed it one way, then another. After >about an hour, as he was dragged from the room, he was heard crying, >“Wait…with all that horse manure, there must be a pony in there >somewhere!” My way of living with a body that reminds me every three >hours to take medications is to keep looking for the pony. >Because Parkinson’s is usually described as “progressive,” “debilitating” >and “incurable” I know the problems I face today will seem inconsequential >tomorrow, but I refuse to feel “debilitated.” I prefer not to dwell upon >the negatives that make my life difficult, but rather upon the positives >that make my life full. > · While taking medication every two hours may force me to live by >the clock, I’m grateful I live in a time when there are medications >available. Without the chemical camouflage from the cocktail of >medications I take, I wouldn’t be able to walk at all. >· Although my symptoms first forced me to give up tennis and skiing and >then later, give up my walker for a scooter when the medications don’t >work, I am, nonetheless grateful to have the mobility. >· Although I hate seeing a photo or video of myself with my body >contorted or moving abnormally, at least it opens an opportunity to >educate someone about Parkinson’s. >· Although I’m afraid I’ll lose my balance and fall when I lean over >for a hug, I love that someone wants to give me a hug. > I could go on, but you get the idea. I guess you could say that >Parkinson’s has brought facets to my life that I never could have >foreseen– while it has done a lot to me, it’s done a lot for me. There is >no doubt that Parkinson’s has changed my life. It would be foolish of me >to say I’m lucky that I have an incurable, progressive, degenerative >disease, but… >·Without Parkinson’s, I wouldn’t write HAPS monthly newsletter for 2300, >which has given me a personal way to reach out and touch thousands and in >return, so many have reached back and touched me. >Without Parkinson’s, I would have missed the opportunity of meeting some >of the most courageous, inspiring, amazing people I know. >Without Parkinson’s, I would never have had the PASSION or opportunity to >fight for and represent the Parkinson community with legislators in Austin >and Washington, or help co-found two organizations involved with medical >research that give the hope of removing the word “incurable” from the >description of Parkinson’s. >And with Parkinson’s, the love and devotion that Joe, my husband of >forty-four years, and I have shared has become even greater because of our >commitment to fight the fight and work toward that common goal. >Life is similar to a game of cards. We have no control over the hand >dealt us. However, we do have control over the way we play the hand. >There's no point in blaming the dealer for a bad hand. The trick is to >play it out with all the skill and determination we possess. I’m not >smart enough to find a cure for this disease, but I am determined to do my >best to make it possible for some researcher somewhere to find a cure. >In short, I decided that if I have to ride in the Parade, I’d prefer to do >it on a pony! > > > >On Jan 8, 2007, at 10:26 AM, Dick Beaumont wrote: > >>You said "Parkinson's Disease Is a Curse and a Blessing by Kate Kelsall" >>in your message that was posted on January 06, 2007 and presented on >>this list by rayilynlee (sorry, I don't know your last name) on Sat >>06/01/2007. >> >>I mentioned that I am a "lurker" since I do not normally respond to any >>messages, I just read them. My knowledge of this disease has been >>attained by internet research and this list. I was diagnosed as having >>PD in February of 2005, just about two years ago. Fortunately, my PD is >>slowly progressing and my depression seems to be corrected. I live in >>Keswick Ontario and work as a technical writer in Richmond Hill. At 67 >>years young, married to a wonderful woman (Helene) and employed doing >>the work I love, I did not know what my sentence meant to me and my >>future (and still not sure). >> >>Question - What is the URL (address) of your Blog. I was moved by your >>observations and wish to read more. >> >>Dick Beaumont >> >>---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: >>mailto:[log in to unmask] >>In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: >mailto:[log in to unmask] >In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn _________________________________________________________________ Get Married in 2007. Join Shaadi.com http://www.shaadi.com/ptnr.php?ptnr=mhottag ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn