Spotlight on Parkinson's: Incurable Optimism

Mandi Mason

219 days ago

I would like to hear from individuals and or families of individuals that have gone through the diagnosing phase. What are some the tell tell signs ya'll encountered.

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Janice Southorn

123 days ago

I would really like to be able to share my Father's story in living with his Parkinson's Disease. He died in 2007 after having the disease for thirty years. Although it was a few years before he was even diagnosed, Parkinson's Disease changed all of us in many ways in affects that were difficult to deal with as a family, but looking back we remained strong and together. Now I reflect on those times, the memories, my Father's and my Mother's strength, what held us together, but then inevitably took them from us. My Mother died one year later. I became a caregiver as an occupation and found it very rewarding taking care of both the elderly and seeing more Parkinson's and Alzheimer's patients. I wanted to make a difference. I have a brother that has volunteered and has become a Parkinson's Disease advocate. I would like to find some ways of sharing and letting people know more about PD, resources available to patients and families. If I could help more someday it would be rewarding and make me feel as though I have done something in my Father's memory, because of him. I have lost several close family members due to illness and life diseases in the past four years, including my Husband of 34 years who died of a sudden Heart attack at only 52 years old. Cancer, Parkinson's Disease, Heart disease and Diabetes have all played a major role. It has been so difficult to lose so many close family members semingly all at once. I would like to contact Michael J. Fox and write to him. I would like to thank him for his work and continued dedication to research, treatment and hopefully a cure soon. I would like to read his book and perhaps recieve the newsletter from the website. I recently saw Michael on a program about "Optimism" and what he has experienced. I wish I had taped it... I believe in educating ourselves more on the diseases that are prevalent in our country and the world. I am fascinated with research and use the net often for that purpose I think researching all aspects and possibilities is important to find, learn, treat and cure. Thank you so much for all you do MJF and the websites on Parkinson's Disease. Good bye for now, Janice

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Janice

123 days ago

Correction to the above... My Father Died in 2006, My Mother 2007. But I do remember his symptoms, the tremors the beginnings when he had changes and I do remember stress seemed to increase his symptoms. I know he was determined to beat it with a strong positive attitude though it depressed him at times to not be able to do some things easily. He was a proud man and in many ways needed to feel he could do things himself. I remember helping him to build a plane once and holding things in place for him so that he could build it like he always had, from the time he was a child he loved airplane and Flying. When he could no longer Fly it was difficult for him to accept but he did it with dignity and wrote about it instead... Though it came later on, the worst of it would be when he was on the floor and couldn't get back up so he would need help from one of us. But so many things he wanted to do still and I saw his pain in many ways. He remained strong for my Mother and all of us. He never gave up till the day he died and even then it was inspiring how he would communicate and his mind and soul remained strong.

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