Roses on Mother's Day and Parkinson's

It is Mother’s Day and children everywhere are making breakfast - a symphony of spilt pancake batter, over and under done eggs, burnt toast, all carefully made and delivered with a smile, a tight hug, and the words I Love You spelled in syrup.

Our moms are our guardian angels, always there by our sides, wiping our tears, picking us up, and cheering us on. The moms in our lives are not always the ones who gave birth to us. Sometimes they are the people who step in and take their place when we lose the person who brought us into the world.  My mom left me too soon. It was not sudden. She knew her time was short. The cancer she had was not treatable. The fear, anger, and sadness she felt was not that her life was ending, but that she was leaving her boys. Mom did not want to lose the most special job there is, that of being a mother. I am fortunate that I have someone special in my life that filled that void after mom passed, my mother-in-law. When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a time when a son needed his mom the most, my mother-in-law was there for me. Her constant support and love given as only a mom can give has meant the world to me. My mom rests easier knowing that she’s looking after her son. My mom-in-law always says, “Give me my roses while I’m alive.” I give them to you in words.

Tell your moms you love them and more importantly show them because every day should be Mother’s Day. To my wife, my mom, and my mother-in-law and all of the wonderful women in the world called mom, Happy Mother’s Day!       

Parkinson's Disease and Awareness

It’s April and that along with showers will bring May flowers or is it spring flowers? I never can remember that one, but most importantly it is also Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month. I can’t think of any rhyme for that. If you do, please post it in comments.

Back to the post, apparently this is the time of the year we try to let everyone know we exist. This is very important because like the old question goes, “if a tree falls in the woods and there is no one there to hear it, will it get the funds it needs for research?” I think not. People cannot help those of us with Parkinson’s if they are unaware of us and this terrible disease we are challenged with. Parkinson’s is a disease of solitude. As movement becomes more and more difficult, we start to stay home more where our surroundings are comfortable and familiar, and where our dignity is not challenged by the stares of strangers. We lock ourselves in a fortress of anonymity where we are safe, where we have become silent trees.

Our voices soften and it is hard to be heard. Our steps shorten and slow, and we stay behind. What can we do in this month of Parkinson’s awareness? We come together. A thousand voices, even though softened, brought together is a choir singing a song of hope that all can hear. A thousand feet walking slowly together is an army that is marching towards a cure. We have all been burdened with a great task -- to do our part in making a nation and a world aware of us.

All of the major Parkinson’s organizations are organizing events throughout the month of April and in October the World Parkinson Congress will convene in Canada. Go to their web sites and find out how you can do your part to help yourself or loved one by raising awareness.

World Parkinson Congress
Parkinson's Disease Foundation
Michael J. Fox Foundation
National Parkinson Foundation
Davis Phinney Foundation

Homelessness, Parkinson's, and Kindness

On our way back to our car after enjoying a wonderful evening with my family at the Wizards game --a wonderful Christmas gift from my daughter, my wife and I came upon a group of homeless people all lined up on a grate fast asleep covered in layers of matching blankets, probably given to them by an organization or person in hopes of providing some comfort. It was a surreal site to see them laying there in this metropolis as people walked by almost oblivious to their existence. My heart sunk as I looked into their faces, eyes tightly shut, smudged with dirt, free for a few hours from their reality before they awoke to it again. Six human beings seemingly discarded, like broken furniture that no longer served a purpose. I do not know what happened in their life that led them to this point, what adversity or bad choice set them to this path. I just knew that they were my brothers and sisters, human beings like me and you and it hurt to see them like this.

I know how difficult life can be sometimes.  Parkinson’s has taught me that, but I lead a blessed life, held up by the love and support of friends and family. I wonder if any of their lives would be different if the people in my life were in theirs. Would they be sleeping on a grate with no place to call home?  I don’t think so. At what point in their lives would a word of encouragement, an intervention, or bit of guidance, or to hear the words I love you perhaps for the first time from someone, possibly change the course of their lives.

We can protect ourselves by choosing not to care to avoid the hurt and sadness, overwhelmed by the enormity of the problems of other people, or we can chose to do something.  We can all make a difference in each other’s life with a simple act of kindness like the matching blankets that at least kept people warm that night.

From all of us who face adversity in life to all the people who choose to be their brother’s and sister’s keeper, thank you for that blanket of kindness.    

I'm Pat Younts and I Move to Live.

  

What Do You Do When You Have Young Onset Parkinson’s - Fighting Back, Part 1

So you get the diagnosis, Parkinson’s… but wait, I’m not old.  How do I have PD? The neurologist explains to you that they’re not exactly sure how; there could be several factors. Your reaction is sad, angry, confused, numb, all of the above which is normal when someone tells you that you have a disease and oh by the way we just don’t have a cure quite yet for it. By all means take a moment to feel sorry for yourself and take one more moment to feel bad for your spouse and loved ones. They will be affected by this, too.

"Now it’s time to get to work," is what I told myself.  What is in my arsenal? What do I have at my disposal to fight and live the best life I can while research is being done to find a cure?

Exercise and nutrition seem to be a must as more and more studies tout the benefits for those with PD (consult your doctor before starting any exercise program). Educate yourself so you can be proactive in managing your own health care. Help your doctors help you. Keep a log or journal about what you are doing, extra supplements you might be taking, sleep patterns, exercise, diet, etc. Meditation and a positive mind set can help deal with PD mentally and emotionally, as well as memory games to help with cognitive abilities. You could get involved in local support groups, or participate in clinical trials to help with research which will help in the development of new therapies and one day possibly a cure. Write a blog and reach out to the PD community so we can share stories and support one another as we fight this together. Remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE!              

      

So what are you going to do? You can take the woe is me approach or you can become determined. We can draw the line in the sand and become unwavering, relentless, never say quit, fight for every inch and moment of your life, determined. It won’t be easy.  Parkinson’s is relentless, but we need to be, too. I have chosen to LIVE with PD and not merely exist. The New Year is coming and with every new year, hope.

In part 2 of this series, Fighting Back - How to Start an Exercise Routine.

I am Pat Younts and I Move to Live.

To give and be thankful

Our American holiday of thanksgiving is a wonderful day of food and celebration that brings family and friends together. We have this special day to remind ourselves to be thankful for what we have. It reminds us to live a life of addition, not subtraction, for what has been given to us. But what do we really have? Possessions come and go; fortunes can be won and lost. As Parkinson’s makes my life challenging and things are slowly taken from me, the things that I realize I truly have and am so very thankful for are my family, friends and since the day cannot be promised, I have this moment. Life is made of moments and the people you spend them with. My moments have become precious to me. I have been so very blessed for the people in my and my family’s lives and for your love and support.

I wish that the rest of the world would share this day with us, and that we all would live our moments free of anger and judgment of others so there can be peace on earth and good will to all.  

 Wishing you the happiest of Thanksgivings, Pat

I am Pat Younts, and I Move to Live

 

 

The Turtle and the Parkinson's Man

My dear friend and long time client Karen was giving me a ride home from our Thursday workout. As usual we were chatting about important subjects like world peace and global warming or was it sports and bad drivers? At any rate homeward bound we were when Karen all of the sudden noticed something moving on the side of the street as we passed it.  If you have ever golfed with Karen, you know that she has eagle eyes and nine times out of ten she will find your golf ball no matter where you hit it, most likely attributed to her being a phenomenal photographer.  A quick glance in the rearview mirror confirmed that it was a turtle and according to my mirror that turtle was “closer than he appeared” and walking out towards the street. Our friend the tortoise was heading towards impending doom. “Hold on, I’m flipping a U.” Karen quickly turned the car around and headed back. Would Mrs. Eagle Eye and Captain Parkie reach our shelled friend in time or would the dastardly commuters make turtle soup out of him? Stay tuned to next week’s episode………

Okay, I won’t make you wait. One more quick U turn put us in hot pursuit of the soon to be victim. “Quick! Get out and grab him!” Karen shouted. “I got him,”…..wait…. she said quick. Captain Parkie lacks that super power. The irony of it all -- a do-gooder with Parkinson’s chasing a turtle, but I had no time to contemplate things. A life was in danger. Using my Jedi powers I raised my hand and brought the oncoming traffic to a halt or was it just the universal gesture to stop? Still no time to think. Could I get there in time? I want to point out that he clearly had a head start, but with a burst of speed, actually a slow shuffle, I caught our green necked friend and answered the age old question of who is faster a man with Parkinson’s or a turtle, nuff said. Our good deed was done as our grateful friend headed back towards the stream and back to his family not knowing exactly what occurred because it all happened so fast.

My friend Karen is a kind soul. She is her brother’s keeper

and the finder of lost children…….and golf balls.  My family and I are blessed to have her and her husband Mark as our friends.

 

I am Pat Younts and I Move to Live.

Steps to Throwing a Wedding

Step One - You need a bride and a date

“We picked a date,” my son and now daughter-in-law told us. Great! My wife and I were overjoyed that my son would marry his high school sweetheart, Samantha. If we could pick our child’s soul mate for him, we would have picked wonderful and beautiful Sam.  I do not have the words to express how happy we are that she is part of our family. She is all a mother and father could wish for their son.   

Step Two - We do not need a wedding planner?

For everyone out there who has done this themselves you know the monumental under taking that it is, but with a can do attitude and a year to plan, how hard could it be? We defiantly boasted….Fast forward to the night before the wedding - As we know, Parkinson’s for me tends to magnify my emotions, thus the overwhelming urge to curl up into a fetal position and cry when I saw how much we still had to do. Don’t cry at the wedding, I told myself and I was going to start a day before.  

Back to present time….and I quote myself, “we could put this together in a month if we had to!” Other equivalent boasts throughout history:  Waterloo, that sounds like a great place for a big victory by me. Maybe put up a nice bed and breakfast after we win, you know, retire.  Napoleon

Step Three - You need to plan

The door on my office should have said War Room, and we were at Defcon 2.  I think that’s bad. At least it is in all those movies I watch and if not, it was definitely fourth and goal, the bases were loaded, a must make free throw,  and we had to pull our goalie as it all came down to a free kick to make that 20 foot putt to win the game. That’s what it felt like….every day of that week leading to our joyous event. My son, the calm rock he is, was steady and supportive as his bride-to-be thought of one more thing to add in as my wife would interject her own thoughts on the subject thus extending the length of time that I stood there my Parkinson’s tremors steadily increasing because a moment earlier I heard those frightening words, “Could you come in here? We need your opinion on something.” Actually a few of my ideas did make it through into the plans and in the distance there was hope like an island to a survivor of a shipwreck. I would just have to swim past all those teal and blue sharks that happened to be the wedding colors.

Step Four - You need family and friends

I always thought a test of friends and family is when you ask them if they could help you move. I was wrong. The measure of your friends and family is when without hesitation they answer yes to the questions: Can you perform the ceremony, have the rehearsal dinner at your restaurant, make the cake, play the violin, sing, DJ, photograph, video, decorate, transport, set up, and take down?   I have found that the one thing about Parkinson’s is how much I count on my friends and family. It simply amazes me at the love, kindness, generosity, and support that they give. This post is a thank you to all the wonderful people that made that day so special. We love you all so very much!