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Barb, Seems to me my "it" didn't become "a part of me" until mild became moderate. As it headed toward severe it became too much a part of me -- So I'm glad to see good role models like (uh huh) you on this list and Janet Reno whose trembling hands are on a microphone instead of our you-know-who President. -----Original Message----- From: Barb_MSN <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tuesday, May 18, 1999 1:44 PM Subject: Re: Janet Reno >Seymour.... > >Thanks so much for posting a copy of the Janet Reno article. I >found this to be very interesting in many ways... > >The author showed a Janet Reno I'd never seen before - one who >DOES discuss Parkinson's Disease, but refers to what she has a >"IT," (which I usually do, also, not wanting to grant "it" even so >much as a name). > >That she even discusses "IT" at ALL is a surprise to me, and to >share her FEELINGS about having this disease is even more of a >surprise, considering what the press has quoted her as saying >about it in the past, I.e., "it's no big deal, etc.." > >This message actually changes my view of Ms. Reno, because I >presumed from previous press-originated articles that she had no >desire to discuss "IT" at all, and it appears NOW that she WILL >discuss "IT." BUT - she isn't going to let "IT" dominate her >conversation OR her life and is willing to say that. > >I'd like to see this message in other newspapers, if possible, and >will send a copy of it to the L.A. Times, with a brief cover >letter suggesting that they show a COMPLETE picture of Ms. Reno >the next time one of their reporters comments that she has PD. > >Better yet, I'd like to see Ms. Reno take a even a small public >stance letting the world know that with the drugs that are >available today, persons with "IT" can lead a longer and more >productive life in many cases. > >It should also be noted that for every Janet Reno, there's someone >struggling to just make it thru the day with a modicum of comfort >and a tiny bit of dignity and quality of life. > >Barb Mallut >[log in to unmask] >-----Original Message----- >From: MR SEYMOUR GROSS <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> >Date: Monday, May 17, 1999 8:07 PM >Subject: Janet Reno > > >>-- [ From: Seymour Gross * EMC.Ver #2.5.3 ] -- >> >>This article was on page C8 of the May 17 edition of the >Philadelphia >>Inquirer >> >>Even with Parkinson's, Reno carries on >> >>By Carol Rosenberg >> >>KNIGHT RIDDER NEWS SERVICE >>NEW YORK - Some people with Parkinson's disease stuff their hands >in >>their pockets. Others routinely sit on them or clamp them behind >their >>back. Not America's attorney general. >> >>Three years after her diagnosis, Janet Reno does nothing to hide >the >>tremors that wrack both arms. At a recent event at MTV's Times >Square >>headquarters, she shuddered so much during a talk on youth >violence that >>both the podium and microphone shook. >> >>"We are living in a culture of violence," the former Dade County, >Fla., >>prosecutor said, asking adults to listen to young people - a >short >>speech that won warm applause and kind words. >> >>In trademark style, Janet Reno has gone from Stage 1 to Stage 2 >>Parkinson's while in the limelight as America's top law enforcer. >By >>dealing with it matter-of-factly, by dismissing her tremors as a >>"phantom wing" - Reno has, perhaps unwittingly, emerged as >Parkinson's >>"poster child." Her experience may also say something about >America's >>changing attitude toward disabilities. >> >>Listen to Judy McGrath, MTV's hip black-clad president, who >joined with >>the Justice Department recently to promote a CD-ROM providing >young >>people with advice on how to channel their rage creatively - into >poetry >>, music, and public service: "I think of the power of her >personality >>and who she is when she gets going - and I kind of forget what >she's >>doing and how she looks," said McGrath, 46, whose corporation >reaches >>265.8 million homes worldwide. >> >>Not that it's easy to ignore. >> >>"I see it. I feel bad for a minute and I completely forget about >it," >>she said. When Reno works a crowd, McGrath says, people look her >in the >>eye, not at her hands. "If anything, you respect her even more." >Why? >>"She acts like she's in charge of her own life. So you forget >about it. >>You don't go to feeling sad. She crackles with life." >> >>Parkinson's is a brain disorder that generally comes with age and >has no >>cure. It gradually robs people's ability to control their >movements. It >>is caused by the absence of a chemical called dopamine, which >lets most >>of us move our limbs smoothly. More than a million Americans have >it, >>among them the Rev. Billy Graham and actor Michael J. Fox. >> >>Tremors are a frequent first stage. Then can come what doctors >call a >>masklike face, meaning people with Parkinson's do not show >typical signs >>of emotion. If they live long enough, people can lose all motor >skills. >> >>So, is a public figure's disability necessarily a news story? >When is a >>disease a disability? If it is only cosmetic, should journalists >be >>asking questions - and writing articles - about something that is >>perhaps a private matter? A Justice Department spokesman recently >>welcomed a Miami Herald request for permission to interview >Reno's Miami >>neurologist about how her disease has progressed. Her tremors >became >>more noticeable lately, and seemed to surprise some people. >> >>Yet Reno's aides say she shows no signs of slowing down and seems >>untroubled by the disease that could someday leave her >permanently >>bedridden. In a brief interview Thursday, she gave a one-word >answer - >>"no" - when she was asked whether Parkinson's interfered with her >work. >> >>"She has no evidence on examination that she has any problem with >>judgment, thinking, abstract thinking, etc.," said her doctor, >Miami >>neurologist William J. Weiner. >> >>Weiner described Reno's condition as "mild Parkinson's." >Technically, >>she is classified as Stage 2 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being >the most >>advanced, or bedbound or in a wheelchair. "She has Stage 2 >because it's >>obvious on both sides of her body," he said. >> >>So much so that when she sat among reporters, rockers and youth >>counselors at the MTV studios, her feet flat on the ground, her >hands >>folded in her lap, she shook in her seat while she listened >attentively >>to a teen from Arizona recite rage poetry. >> >>"She doesn't seem to care. She says outright that she has >Parkinson's. >>She is to be admired for that. She has nothing to hide," Weiner >said. >> >>The doctor says her disability could disqualify her from certain >jobs - >>such as brain surgeon or pilot - but not from directing the >100,000 >>lawyers and FBI agents, bureaucrats and border guards of the >Justice >>Department. >> >>Of course, he and other Parkinson's experts say, stress adds to >the >>symptom - accentuates the tremors - but it does not make it >progress any >>faster than a stress-free environment. >> >>So, her doctor said, if she doesn't mind the stress of the job >making >>the tremors more noticeable, why should others? Reno, for her >part, >>cannot connect stress and her tremors. "It's so hard to tell >because, >>some days, when I should be totally stressed out, it doesn't >shake much >>at all," she said. "It doesn't seem to have any rhyme or reason >to it." >>