[stevem53]

Hi Everyone, and a warm welcome to our new community members!

Not a good week..Last Sunday I was heading to my girlfeinds house and my truck broke down on the way, about 45 miles from home..So I called AAA, and a tow truck showed up in about 20 minutes..I got the bad news on Monday that it needs a motor..I just bought the thing last November, and I wont have the truck back untill late next week, or sometime the week after..So Im riding around in $26 a day rental car..But, thats life..What are ya gonna do?..

If that wasnt bad enough there was a guy who drowned last Saturday, from Warwick R.I., and around about Tuesday they released his name to the newspaper..Donald Brennan 58 years old..When I read the name a chill went through my body!..There is a Donald Brennan from Warwick who is about 58 years old in my support group.. ..Could it be the same Donald Brennan?..The following day his obituary was in the paper, and it was the Donald that I knew so well.. ..Don was the guy who I contacted through a friend who knew him to get into support..Don was an amazing guy!..He was dx 15 years ago..Was a marathon runner, and a Vietnam Veteran..Competed in many Ironman Triathelons..Ran the Boston Marathon on many occasions..with pd..and finished..On the day he drowned, he was training for another Triathelon, and theres a possibilty that it wasnt due to pd..He hadnt been feeling well that week and may have had a heart attack or a stroke..The family is waiting for the autopsy report..When Don was at the WPC he so wanted to meet John Ball, the marathon runner..John was his mentor..Funny thing was, that I met John, and Don didnt, and even stranger, I never ran into Don at the WPC even though we were both there..I wish that had been different..Don had a gut splitting sense of humor, and on the day I was invited to Congressman Jim Langevins press conference, I was on the verge of a panic attack sitting in front of the TV cameras, that was untill Don showed up to lend some support and his outbursts broke the ice.. ..At his wake on Thursday, tons of people filed into the funeral home from all walks of life..He obviously touched alot of peoples lives..There was a display case with all his ribbons and medals in it, the bicycle he rode to compete in the Triathelon, and a collage of pictures..I cant believe he's gone!..The Rhode Island Parkinsons Community has lost an inspirational pd Warrior that we will never forget

Please remember Don and his family in your prayers

How was your week?





This was a Tiger that Don carved, and was on display in the art gallery at the WPC..Some of you may have seen it..He once carved a statue of Dr Friedman, his Neurologist, and gave it to him..Ya just never knew what Don was going to do!..