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^^^^^^WARM GREETINGS  FROM^^^^^^^^^^
Ivan Suzman  48/10         [log in to unmask]
Portland, Maine   land of lighthouses    31 deg. F


Dear friends,

   GREAT NEWS!!

   I have JUST received word by telephone that the following Draft
Resolution, which I am thrilled to have authored, passed the Maine Senate
yesterday, and the Maine House of Representatives this morning!

   It is known as Maine Senate Paper 868, and can be obtained from the
Secretary to the Maine Senate, Augusta Maine, at (207) 287-1540
I am awaiting the Resolution by snail-mail, which I hope added in "speech
pathologist, spech therapist"
to the draft below. There may have also been minor wording changes.

  I hope that the Resolution can be used by other PWP's across the United
States, and elsewhere.

Ivan Suzman


>_________________________
>Whereas, Parkinson's Disease, or Paralysis Agitans, is a devastating,
>painful and incurable brain disorder of unknown origin, that disrupts
>and can end the lives of those who suffer from it, as well as
>overwhelming the lives of their families and friends; and
>Whereas, it is estimated that the total costs in lost wages, lost
>caregiver wages, nursing home, hospital and at-home care, physicians'
>and surgeons' care, and medications is estimated to cost the United
>States $26,000,000,000.00 annually, and to cost the State of Maine
>approximately $13,000,000.00 annually; and
>Whereas, the livelihoods of dozens of Maine families are dependent on
>the
>discovery of a cure for Parkinson's Disease, in the absence of which,
>these families may incur imminent financial devastation; and
>Whereas, Parkinson's Disease often takes an enormous emotional,
>psychological and physical toll on the families surrounding their
>suffering loved ones; and
>Whereas, although usually affecting adults over 60, Parkinson's
>Disease
>is known to appear as early as in the late teenage years; and
>Whereas, Parkinson's Disease is being detected in increasing numbers
>of
>individuals between 25 and 45; and
>Whereas, Parkinson's Disease appears eventually in approximately 1of 4
>persons older than 80, and in 1 of 10 persons older than 60, thereby
>directly touching the lives of at least 1 of 10 families in Maine; and
>
>Whereas, according to the American Parkinson's Disease Association,
>there
>are now approximately 1.5 million people in the United States
>diagnosed with one of the forms of Parkinson's Disease, of which 7,000
>or more are in the State of Maine; and
>Whereas, Maine's true number of persons inflicted with Parkinson's
>Disease, given the poor and rural nature of the population of the
>State of Maine, and its large number of senior citizens, may be far
>greater than the 7,000 most recently suggested; and may well be closer
>to 13,000; and
>Whereas, many hundreds of citizens of Maine living with Parkinson's
>Disease never have access to treatment by either a knowledgeable
>neurologist or an out-of-state specialist, cannot afford the
>medications currently on the market, and cannot afford health
>insurance to pay either for treatments or for qualified care
>providers; and
>Whereas, in the State of Maine, there is still not one physician,
>physician's assistant, nurse or nurse-practitioner, social worker,
>psychiatrist, psychiatric worker, counsellor,  occupational therapist,
>physical therapist or massage therapist, medical educator or medical
>writer, in residence, who is a Parkinson's Disease specialist; and
>Whereas, no Parkinson's Disease clinics, treatment centers, home-care
>services, legal protections or public education programs exist
>anywhere in Maine, to advise and support the families and caregivers
>of persons living with Parkinson's Disease; and
>>Whereas, more Americans suffer from Parkinson's Disease than the
>total
>of all those who suffer from three equally tragic conditions, those
>being multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and Lou Gehrig's
>Disease, combined; and
>Whereas, the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease in its various
>forms--including stillness, tremor, loss of vocal and facial
>expression, slowness or absence of movement, and difficulties with
>balance and walking, are often mistaken for a normal part of the aging
>process; and
>Whereas, failure of the body's internal thermostat, failure of the
>digestive and urinary systems, disturbances in speech, sleep and
>personality, and eventual physical and mental exhaustion, are
>difficulties encountered in the more advanced stages of Parkinson's
>Disease; and
>Whereas, because the underlying causes of Parkinson's Disease, in its
>various forms, are unidentified, and anti-parkinsonian medications are
>only able to assist in controlling some of the symptoms of the disease
>for a limited part of one's lifespan, so that the progression of the
>disease, although slowed, is still unstopped; and
>Whereas, in the absence of diagnostic blood or other tests, genetic
>screening, and specialized counselling, many individuals in Maine with
>Parkinson's Disease live in an atmosphere of fear, and suffer various
>forms of discrimination and isolation;and
>Whereas, the historic and crucial Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Disease
>Research, Education and Assistance Act, which would provide up to
>$100,000,000.00 of Parkinson's-specific funding, has recently been
>passed by the Congress after a courageous, four-year struggle by
>Parkinson's sufferers usually too sick to go to Washington; and
>Whereas, this Udall Parkinson's Act is yet to be funded by the Joint
>House-Senate Appropriations Committee and lingers there at this very
>moment; and
>Whereas the entire Congressional delegation from Maine was the first
>delegation from any State to join in co-sponsoring  the Udall
>Parkinson's legislation; and
>Whereas people living with Parkinson's Disease are frequently elderly,
>or
>severly disabled younger adults, who have difficulty being heard, and
>who are often institutionalized or home-bound; and
>Whereas,  substantially and compassionately increased research, public
>education and aid to families and individuals living with Parkinson's
>Disease are all needed urgently, to make life with Parkinson's Disease
>somewhat more bearable, somewhat  less frustrating for caregivers, and
>ultimately, to aid in finding a cure for the various forms of
>Parkinson's Disease,  whether of genetic, traumatic or developmental
>origin; and
>Whereas, the leading public officials of the State of Maine and in its
>medical community are now called upon to aid in reversing the
>invisibility and voicelessness of its citizens suffering from
>Parkinson's Disease; and
>>Whereas, April 11 has been proclaimed globally to be World
>Parkinson's
>Day, a day for all to recognize the need for more research and help in
>dealing with the devastating effects of Parkinson's Disease; and
>>Now, therefore, I, Angus S. King, Jr., Governor of the State of
>Maine,
>do hereby proclaim April, 1998 as Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month,
>and Saturday, April 11, 1998, as World Parkinson's Day, throughout the
>State of Maine, and urge all citizens to extend their
>support for those struggling with Parkinson's Disease and to their
>loved ones trying to help fight the battle.
>Submitted by,
>
>Ivan Suzman, Portland
>