I don't visit here often enough, I know. But every time I do I am struck by something extraordinary, and that is the energy, ideas, and collaboration that this community produces on a daily basis. With a great mixture of new voices and old, things have been discussed here, created here, and disseminated from here that have helped to change the world for the Parkinson's community.

There are new ideas about the nature of just about everything that has to do with our disease circling about, and they are changing the way scientists, academicians, patient organizations, and medical institutions think about Parkinson's. Old paradigms are breaking up faster than a house of cards on a windy day. It's like the Wild West out there.

New paradigms are emerging, and everybody involved with PD is trying to make sense out of the inconvenient truths that in no small part have emerged from this little corner of the world. I am proud to remain in some small way a part of this community.

One of the true stalwarts of this forum is Paula. Along with some other old-timers (you know who you are), she has stayed the course through thick and thin, for over a decade. She has worked herself to the bone and beyond when things that were wrong in her eyes needed to be set right, and information that would otherwise have been suppressed or ignored needed to be shouted from the rooftops. Along with Peggy Willocks and Linda Herman, Paula was a pioneer in creating the first online newspaper/magazine for Parkinson's patients, the Grassroots Connection. It was all the news that was fit to print, plus some that was deemed by the Parkinson's establishment to be too hot to handle. It remains a landmark in the history of patient advocacy for Parkinson's.

Anyway, today is Paula's birthday. So Happy Birthday Paula! Best wishes and many happy returns of the day.

Your pal,

Greg Wasson

DITTO, Greg!

Happy Birthday, Paula!!!!

Robert

Hoping you have had a very special and blessed day Paula

Happy Birthday

Paula,
All the best of birthday wishes! Along with thanks not only for what you do but the way you inspire and push the boundaries for all of us!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!



Lindy

One of many, but certainly the first and longest lasting in the PD World. I contacted Paula out of the blue after finding her pioneering website, Grassroots Connection, in 2002. She emailed me immediately, saying, "Get thee to Braintalk." I did, and we are both still here (now Neurotalk) eight years later.

Paula, you are an everyday inspiration for me. I don't know what my life would have been without you - I know it wouldn't be good. I love you like a sister, and am especially fond of your portrayal of a volcano at Jaye's house during a round of pictionary so many years ago........................

Tribal blessings for a wonderful year!

Love from your Comrade and Friend,

well I'm in tears......i cry over everything now...lol Thank you......it means very much to me. Another special treat was Lynda Mckenzie and husband Al visiting today and carey you know where i took them......Lone Cabbage Fish Camp on the airboat.

I talked to her about the latest to come out on the Freed fetal cell study[she was in it] and she hadn't heard it yet...been vacationing...but she had already called at some point to see if she could get a pet scan to see what's happening. They said they had no money for that..Lynda now has a DBS, and they have to calabrate her lower[?] or whatever the equivalent to turning it down is-sorry I don't know the terminology.

She also mentioned that Jack Clark, who was the man who donated the chair held by Dr. Tony Lang in Toronto and in whose mansion we all danced many years ago, [this story came up in a previous thread], passed away last year from a fall.

Thanks all, there's a bond here that has enabled me to get through it,
paula

Hope you have the very best year possible. You have contributed enormously to my last year, makingme feel like it was one of accomplsihment, community and friendship, I have felt more connected this past year than any in recent memory and I credit that to you.

It has been a great pleasure to renew this old acquantiance and have it grow into a valued friendship. Thank you Paula for your passion, caring and especially for your generosity. Have a wonderful year. I am so proud to call you my friend.

Pam

Paula,
Thanks for all you've done for us!! I really appreciate it!
And---a very happy birthday!
Mari-Mari (from the "old" forum)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Paula!

girija