April is Parkinson's Awareness Month

If you follow my blog, you know my husband Dave has Parkinson's. He's had it for more than five years now and does fairly well because he refuses to just sit down and wait for it to get worse. Since there is no cure, though, the symptoms do get gradually more disabling as time goes by.

This disease has greatly changed not only Dave's life but mine as well. We have stopped doing many things we used to enjoy because either he can't manage it or I can't because of my COPD. I write checks, etc. for him now because his writing has become illegible. I help him with a few other things he can't manage well too. If I thought about this very long, it would really get to me, so I try not to think about how things used to be.

When we went to a Parkinson's seminar last fall, I was amazed at how upbeat many of the PD people were despite having more disability than Dave. I guess for some it's a concious choice to get the most they can out of life because otherwise you waste what's left of your life in misery, and of course make those who love you miserable. I think only about 2% of PD people have dementia as part of the disease, although most have memory problems.

If you have the resources to donate to an excellent cause, I would hope you would remember The Parkinson's Foundation or The Michael J. Fox Foundation. Both are accomplishing much in the way of treatment. There is no cure now, but maybe someday . . . You might also take part in a walk for Parkinson's taking place in your city this month. What better excuse to take a nice spring walk? Those of us who have a loved one with this disease would be very grateful.

Philadelphia, City of Brotherly Love

I don't know about the brotherly love part, but I know I love Philadelphia. My husband Dave and I go there several times a year for medical visits and ballgames. I used to be a Cubs fan but the Phillies have grown on me, and a Bears fan but the Eagles have grown on me despite their hiring of Michael Vick. We like the history, the river, the lights of the city after dark, the neighborhoods, everything except the confusing traffic signs.

We've just returned from a couple days there to attend a Parkinson's conference. I had printed out a Google map because we were staying near the stadium and going to the conference near the airport. Like most internet maps, this was one a doozy. We spent much of our time lost, but we got to see more of the city than usual because of it.

At the conference we were like two sponges absorbing all the information. Dave has had Parkinson's for quite a long time (diagnosed about four years ago but actually had it for many years before that). These meetings encourage us as we learn about new gadgets to make life easier and new advances in knowledge about the disease. Talking to others with PD helps as well. The topic this time was non-motor symptoms. We learned so much.

I'm a great believer in being as informed as possible about health issues and seeking the best care available. I have an advantage in that I was a medical transcriptionist so I understand medical terminology, but anyone can stay informed by contacting organizations and following news on websites such as WebMD, the Mayo Clinic, and Johns Hopkins.