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Dear Colleagues, Don't write much for the list these days.Busy with my PD newsletter, the GOOD TIMES NEWSLETTER. It's fun and the most fun is giving a voice to someone who has never been published but is an obvious talent.Such is the story with Pat Willard. Pat is a secretary at the Concord(MASS) Council on Aging. One day she told me about some friends; the husband had PD and the wife was his caregiver until one day the wife had a heart attack and suddenly the patient became the caregiver. Pat's question to me had to do with how could this obviously ill man take care of his obviously ill wife I explained to Pat my theory about how some, may be many PWP, when challenged are able rise to the occassion. To feel out of their isolation, to feel needed,to feel the mist clearing away from their rusted brains and when the family joins in the fight then the PD may well retreat.Who Knows? Please feel to send any thoughts you may have about Pat's writing or the story to pat at [log in to unmask] or/and me at [log in to unmask],com THE STORY>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> FRIENDS OF OURS RISING TO THE OCCASION BY PAT. WILLARD Special to the Good Times Newsletter Friends of ours have recently been making some life-style changes partly because they are now approaching their mid seventies and the husband has Parkinson's. He has had a very positive approach to his treatment and has worked well with his physicians in determining the methods and doses of medications. He also has been very good about the information with friends and family and encouraging conversation about his issues. However, time marches on and there was an obvious advancing of his disease. His eyesight and ability to drive have been greatly hampered. Needless to say, we all worry about his progress, especially his wife. They were living in a remote area of New England for six months or more of the year. Prior to leaving for Florida in the fall for their second home, they, with great reluctance, sold the New England home and arranged for a new house to be built close to family to be ready for their return in the spring. This new home was built with the ideas available for seniors and the distinct possibility of disability ahead. Early December their lives took a turn when the wife had a heart attack. She was able to be in a local hospital which was fortunate for the husband. By January there were other issues in her health that weren't being diagnosed easily. By this time she was being treated regularly in this hospital and in the facility in a nearby town. The husband was becoming very exhausted but still able to manage the house and her transport with some help from a nearby family member. By the end of February this had taken a toll on everyone. It was at this point that the problems were diagnosed. It was discovered that she had an aneurysm and a rare infection that had attacked her spine. The outlook was very grim. She was moved to a large facility 60+ miles away, the very large family gathered around the father, all staying at a hotel facility connected to the hospital. Fortunately, the prayers were answered and she is on the long road to recovery. After a month in the hospital, she was moved to a local rehab which is easier on him. That was a month that he lived in a hotel, eating fast food, Chinese, etc. However, now that she is close to home, he has moved back into his own home and their adult children are taking turns flying down and staying with him and driving him there each day. to see him and driving him to visit her each day. She will not be released until she can be mobile and he can put her "turtle shell" on and off each day plus see to her general care. A big order for him!! Now, on to the point of the story. All during this my thoughts were how could he sustain his strength and ability to cope through this? When we were able to visit with her in the hospital and spend time with him, we were amazed. He was looking very well and could recite in detail every procedure that his wife had been through, medications, etc. My first question to him. "How are you? really? His response was that aside from being very tired (as everyone involved was) he felt well and that he seemed to be better than he had been for a long time. He didn't know how this could be considering all he had been through and all there was yet ahead of them, but he felt up to the challenge. The role of caretaker and been reversed and out of necessity he would have to do this. The other factor was that the children had rallied around and he was feeling the positive reinforcement from this. We felt uplifted to see this couple with 50+ years of marriage behind them facing this battle and meeting the challenges head on. They are looking forward to being in their new home in New England some time this summer. How fortunate that they made the decisions last summer that will enable them to do this. (God doing a little prep work ahead of time?) We hope and pray for her ongoing recovery and for his continued strength and good health.