World Parkinson's Day

April 11 is World Parkinson's Day... the birth date of James Parkinson, the English doctor who first published his findings on Parkinson's disease back in the early 1800s.  The Shake It Up Foundation has a byline that says "More than just the shakes".  Indeed, it is more than just the shakes.  Indeed, dad does not have any shaking at all.  Someone once said to me, "Your dad has Parkinson's?  But he doesn't shake."  No, he doesn't... Parkinson's is more than a shaking body.

Among dad's initial symptoms were: Bradykinesia (slowness of movement), which affects the fine motor skills and makes simple tasks like getting dressed a major undertaking, The "Parkinson's mask" (stiff face), stooped posture, small handwriting, depression, worrying.

Then it moved into: cognition, behavior, rapid, shuffling steps. It was towards the end of this cycle, we noticed the worrying new symptoms of memory loss and hallucinations.  Our observations were confirmed with the diagnose of Parkinson's related Lewy Body Dementia.  Shortly after this, he started having falls, where we were informed that Parkinson's affects the balance to the point where the patient can no longer walk, even though they may still have the strength.

Dad is now considered late stage Parkinson's where he has all the charming symptoms listed above, along with reduced speech, swallowing issues, severe short term memory loss.  With the dementia, he forgets that he can't walk and is always trying to get up and walk.  He has succeeded a few times, only to fall over and injure himself.

Dad had struggled with this disease for over ten years now.  One day a while ago, being slightly silly, I asked him if he had any advice for me.  He said, "Yes.  Don't get Parkinson's disease."

The other day I was reading about things they are researching for a cure for Parkinson's.  I had the thought, "Wouldn't it be nice if one day they find the cure for this wretched disease and say to themselves 'Of course that's the answer.  How did we not know it was that all along?' "

Till that day, we need to remain aware and do what we can to advance the research for a cure for this crippling disease.

PS... Update on the Seal Bark post... dad still has the terrible cough, but it's at least starting to clear in his chest.  When I went to see him yesterday, he was sitting in his water chair, gazing out at the trees, quite content.  That lifted my spirits a little.  ;)