Skip to main content

Waiting

I attended a conference this weekend where it was noted that it is the 200th anniversary of PD or at least when it came to be known as PD. In 1817, James Parkinson wrote an article on Shaking Palsy, today known as Parkinson's Disease.  The next big development in the world of PD was the  
development of Carbidopa/Levidopa as a medication to treat symptoms.  This happened in the 1960's. In the 1990's Deep Brain Stimulation surgery started  being used to treat symptoms. Lots of research is being done and newer treatments and meds are being used but there is still no cure.  

And so we wait.  I'm not good at waiting.  I tend to be impatient and like to take action.  So while I wait, I exercise.  While I wait, I research.  While I wait, I participate in research.  While I wait, I educate others.  While I wait, I do everything I can to keep my body, mind and soul healthy.   While I wait, I am participating in this wonderful life that God has given me.  While I wait, I pray.  Waiting is allowing me time to find my purpose on this rollercoaster journey.  God is in the wait.  

And so I wait.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Missing Tom

I recently lost a good friend. Never would I have imagined that I would become such good buddies with a man old enough to be my dad. I met Tom over seven years ago in a Rock Steady Boxing class. I entered class as a shy, teary-eyed, newly diagnosed mess who didn't like to sweat and had never boxed. Tom quickly took me under his wing, introduced me to the movers and shakers in the local Parkinson's community and eventually recognized a potential in me to further help the community. Within a year, with the encouragement of Tom and others, I became a certified Rock Steady coach. Tom and I would go to the same conferences and seek out the newly diagnosed. Ever the salesman, Tom would ask me if I "closed the deal," meaning, did I convince someone to come to an exercise class or attend a support group. Tom knew the benefits of attending these groups and he wanted everyone else to know also. He just wanted everyone to live the best life possible, even while living
Post a Comment
Read more

Diagnosing with Compassion and Hope

  My hackles are raised, my feathers are ruffled, my … I’m not sure I can find the words for how I am feeling.   This morning, I read a recently published article called “ Delivering the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease-setting the stage with hope and compassion.”   I am not upset that the article was written.     I am glad that the authors have brought this to the attention of others. I am upset that it needed to be written.     I just think it is common sense that when someone is given a life-changing diagnosis, it should be given with hope and compassion.     The authors note that some say the moment of diagnosis is “almost akin to a traumatic event such as the loss of a loved one.” Of course it is!     The person receiving the diagnosis is losing their future self.     Everything they thought their life would be from that moment on has now drastically changed! I would count that as traumatic.       I was one of these people over seven years ago who walked out of the Movement Disord
Post a Comment
Read more

Out of My Mind...

If you have been living with Parkinson's for a while, you are likely living at the mercy of Parkinson's medications. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful that medications are available. Without them, life would be miserable much of the time. But don't get me wrong (again), even with medication, you may feel like you are losing your mind. Early on, you take your meds on schedule, you can pretty much count on how long they will last and know what to avoid with them (protein maybe). As the years pass, and your symptoms progress, you would think you could either just, A. increase your meds or B. increase the frequency of your meds depending on what your doctor recommends. This seems logical to me. Sometimes this works, but eventually you end up with an E-ticket to the Dopacoaster. What is special about the Dopacoaster is that the tracks can change hour to hour. You took the ride yesterday and felt good. Life with PD was manageable. Today, you follow the same sche
Post a Comment
Read more