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.