Hello!
I'm new to the list, and let me tell you-I'm so glad I found it!
My father was diagnosed in 1984 with Parkinson's Disease just after
his 58th birthday. My two brothers and I all live nearby and are all
married. My younger brother lives in the same town as my parents, while my
older brother and I live about 50 miles away. Dad is being cared for by our
mother, who is not in the best of health herself, and it's a very stressful
situation. They've lost some so-called friends because they don't know how
to deal with my father, and it really hurts them. Through these last ten
years, we've found out who our true friends are through their love and
support. It really broke my heart to hear Dad say once, in regard to the
people who never come around anymore, "I guess they think I'm contagious."
My parents have neighbors who are more than willing to shovel the
drive, etc. when it needs it--though my father loves to work in the yard and
we encourage it. Their yard is the most beautiful one in town, and at my
recent wedding (September 3), I was proud to have roses from their garden on
the altar as well as my beloved father escorting me down the aisle. As he
walked, he sobbed uncontrollably, and I wouldn't trade the moments we spent
together that day for anything.
Sometimes, I fear that my brothers either (1) don't acknowledge the
troubles that my parents have, (2) know the troubles but deny them, (3) or
believe that my mother blows things out of proportion. It's sometimes
frustrating.
My husband and I make the trips to the Ann Arbor Veteran's Hospital,
where my father is under the care of excellent neurologists which he
wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise.
My father has an engineering degree, and was not only a fine design
engineer (with several patents to his name), but a wonderful athlete. In
fact, the medical doctors at the VA believe that is why, other than the
Parkinson's, he's in better shape than most 68 year old men. He is always
the loving father, and has always been there (as has Mom) when we needed
him. I weep to think that he knows what's going on with his body, that his
mind is intact yet he's trapped in a body that is so uncooperative.
Well, I guess that's enough for now. I'm so glad I could find such a
supportive and understanding group on the net. People just don't understand
what goes on unless they're in the situation.
Tamara D. H. Syron
_/_ / / /
/ __ / /_ o _. /_ _ Tamara D. Hicks Syron
< (__/_/ /_<_(_ / <_/_)_ Publications
National Center for Research on Teacher Learning
College of Education
Michigan State University
East Lansing
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/ (. .) \ * There are only two lasting *
/*\ * bequests we can hope to give *
Heidi the * our children. One of these *
wonder * is roots; the other, wings. *
beagle * -Hodding Carter- *
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