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To Ida K. - ---------- Your moving message regarding your son's and daughter's past and present reactions to your having PD brought tears to my eyes and started that darn left hand of mine shaking from the emotion I felt. You have a lovely way of expressing yourself, Ida. Similarily to you, I was diagnosed 18 years ago when my son was ten and my daughter was six. Your description of the way your son and daughter have handled the situation of seeing your symptoms manifested both personally and when friends are involved very closely parallels my own children's reactions at first and how those have changed over the years. Both of my children, although now in their 20's, have always been (and still are) very sensitive to my feelings in that they don't want me to think they are personally concerned not only with me but also themselves regarding the very real possibility that they may inherit the disease some time in the future. Added to this fear, I am sure, is a fear of inheriting the tendency towards becoming schizophrenic, which is the diagnosis that was given to my husband 19 years ago after he suffered a job-related mental breakdown. I feel this is a terrible burden for them to carry around on their young shoulders and I worry about them a great deal. When your children are concerned, you feel their pain much more than you feel your own - no matter what their age. Regards and Thank you's, JANICE LONG