Land o goshen, I have a place here! It is a cob-webbed place like my mind, but still here. Hello everybody. This thread caught my eye on another site and I followed it here. I, too, am sorry for the loss of Rick in my life.
Vic

R.I.P. Rick. You will certainly be missed by all.

Wanda. I am so sorry to read of Rick's suicide and the pain you will be going through while having to live with his choice. Knowing that he is at rest and without any pain is some consulation I'm sure. Having lost a "healthy" 31 year old son to suicide I am very aware of the feelings, guilt, anger, heartbreak, pain, loss etc that you will continue to experience in the coming months.
I did not "know" Rick but can tell how loved and helpful he was to those suffering with Parkinsons. Again, I am so very sorry. Please know that we are all here for you.

I am really saddened by the loss of Rick to this community. From his contributions here I knew him to be a good man - generous, caring and intelligent. Above all, he demonstrated the supreme virtue of kindness. We will miss him greatly. I'd like to express my condolences to his wife and family in their deep loss.

Ruth

I have not responded to this news because it has taken/is taking me some time to process it. I am so angry, and heart-broken, that PD has claimed yet another valiant fighter, perhaps one of the most valiant among us. He gave such hope and support to so many, selflessly.

I too never met Rick but so valued his posts. His sense of humour was a true gift and I always marveled at how he could see humour in things I could not....until he pointed it out He set such an example and for that I will always be grateful.

We all know there was a wonderful man behind the PD. My sincerest condolences to Wanda and her family.

i could not believe it. We have lost somebody who really was engaged to investigate about PD and he had ideas and experiences to share with us withln this forum since braintalk.

with lots of appreviation from Germany

I'm just sick! But I realized after years participating and then watching this forum, suicide is much more common among Parkinson's patients than anyone realizes or is willing to admit...

My condolences to the family. I am stunned.

gaykir
You bring up a good point about the mental state of many people diagnosed with PD. In reality, it is a known fact that half of people with Parkinson's will develop dementia, and probably all of us with PD will develop some cognitive difficulty or depression. Of course PD hits many older people (60+) because the loss of dopamine-producing neurons is a normal part of the aging process. But when we see people in their 30's and 40's being diagnosed with PD, it is known as Young Onset Parkinson's. The fact that these people will have to be treated longer (because PD is a slow devleoping process, especially in the young onset) means the likelihood of having bad side effects from having to use the medication for so long. I have been on Parkinson's medication for over 20 years! I am up and down as to how well I function, but I'm still plugging away. However, I know that the long-term use of Sinemet (Carbidopa/Levodopa) is the cause of my dyskinesia and dystonia. If you have never experienced dyskinesia, you are very blessed. I have it virtually ALL the time, but it stops when I sleep (thank God!). The twisting and constant wrything causes painful dystonia for me. I feel now that I am about as bad off as many with advanced PD symptoms. I am fortunate that I don't fall often. I fell in the rocks the other day, and I must have strong bones, because I have never had more than a stress fracture in both feet.

Gosh, I did not mean to talk (or write) so much, but I guess the point I wanted to make was that having to live with Parkinson's is enough to mess our head up emotionally, and the fact that we use brain-altering meds causes depression, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, and other mental deficiencies or disorders. Parkinson's is so much more than "just a tremor!"
Peggy

I just got back from India and sad to read about Rick's death. Words cannot explain how I feel right now, sad to see a friend end his life, mad at the scientific world for taking so long to understand this disease and the medications we take.
Rick was one of main reasons I joined Braintalk. Over the years we had great scientific discussions, many of which are being discussed as new in PD scientific world today. It breaks my heart to know that Rick's wisdom and understanding of PD remained as ideas and didnot become therapies which might have helped him. It is too late for him.
My sincere condolences to Rick's wife, family and friends. He clearly will be missed by many people.

Girija

I think of him almost every day. So, so sad.