Well, 2006 has been quite the year.

I started out with high hopes and big plans, looking to finish my Master's degree and then seek work as a Certified Child Life Specialist, working with children in a hospital environment helping them with their individual illness, the resulting treatments, and enabling them to develop developmentally appropriate coping mechanisms. I also was hoping to teach at the college level.

Then in April I got my PD diagnosis and everything dramatically changed. It answered a number of questions in regards to how I was feeling, both physically and emotionally. Working in the high-stress environment of a hospital was out, and my career plans took yet another unexpected turn.

After absorbing the diagnosis, I decided to become active in the PD community as a way to not only help others, but to also provide me with a way to cope with my personal version of PD.

I attended my first PD event put on by the MJF Foundation. I met some great people with PD and their families, and spent a few minutes with MJF. It gave me hope and inspiration to move forward.

Then in July I headed to Washington, DC for the NPF Young-Onset conference. It was the scariest and yet single best thing I have done since my diagnosis. I met some incredible people with PD and became even more inspired.

While at the conference, I received a call from my old employer saying that a mistake was made and the Long-Term disability insurance I thought I had, had literally been pulled out from under me. While at the conference, I heard story after story of people who were caught without LTD and were struggling financially as a result. I thought I was so lucky that I had it, only to be told that I didn't. Numerous lawyers later, the concensus is that the employer was wrong morally and ethically but are protected by law. Such is life.

So now my financial future is in serious jeopardy. My career as a Child Life Specialist, to which I had devoted the last five years of my life preparing for, was now out of the question. And teaching at the college level is in jeopardy as well, due to conflicts with the minimal income the position pays and the impact on my Social Security disability.

Lot's of things have changed, but it's not all doom and gloom. I've met some remarkable people, both in person and through websites and forums like this one. Many of whom I know will be friends for life.

I've been able to create a business and website, and get out to speak in order to educate, advocate, and make people aware of this devastating disease. I've written articles about my PD experience that have appeared on websites and in print, and had stories written about me locally.

I've joined the committee for the NPF's Young-Onset conference for this coming July in Chicago. I've joined PAN and will hopefully make the trip in February to DC if they approve my request for scholarship.

I've also started a Young-Onset support group here in my area because there wasn't one. In four short months, we've got 16 amazing members.

And, I finished my Master's Degree, which is remarkable for a person who barely graduated high school, and I did it all in an extremely short period of time with a 4.0 GPA. All while dealing with PD.

Many doors have closed, but many have opened. I don't know where 2007 will take me but I'm ready for whatever it chooses to throw my way. All things considered, I'm a pretty lucky guy.

May you all find peace and happiness in the coming year. I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."

Happy New Year! I hope you take the time to celebrate you...

Todd
PDTalks.com