I don’t want to in any way diminish the praise and admiration heaped on MJF this week for he has done more for the long term benefits for Parkinson’s Disease than any one individual perhaps ever has.

BUT we also have many here in this forum that has done equally admirable feats that have changed the way WE are coping with the disease today. Their personal wealth and public image will never allow them to accomplish what MJF has done but within their limitations have been equally significant.

Some examples:

Steve our Welcome Wagon persona extraordinaire. He has welcomed each individual to the forum and is always there to answer any question or offer a shoulder to anyone who has need.

Paula our Information Specialist. She always has the new news events posted before any of the rest of us has had our first cup of coffee.

CTenaLouise, Todd, Carolyn, and others - our Early Onset heroes. They have shown us that early onset PD is not as a stone wall as we feel when diagnosed and there is hope for a long future.

Paula, Carolyn, Joan our Political Activists. You have presented the political issues and informed us how we can make our voices known and heard.

Chasmo our DBS expert. Charlie has the knowledge and expertise to answer nearly any question about DBS and the ability to answer them in a way to give the information but not influence the asker of the question in their decision to have the surgery or not.

CTenaLouise, Todd, Rd42 our video producers and information distributors. They have produced videos and created wonderful web pages to disseminate our story

ZucchiniFlower, GodFather, olsen our Medical Experts. You have answered the technical questions that needed answers and presented scientific information that we would never have known or even known to ask.

Olsen, reverrett, BEMM our Alternative Medicines information experts. You have given us ideas to explore that many of us would have not taken the time to research or to even have considered.

Gayle, Jean our Involuntary Advocates. They didn’t turn down opportunities to get the information out when they had the chance.

Aftermathman, Textra, EnglishCountryDancer our Foreign Contributors. You show us that this is a world wide battle and that it is not confined to our little corner of our little town.

MikeTFF and all those needing information. You have bravely requested information that has answered questions for those who lurk or are not outgoing enough to publicly ask for advice.

Harley our Artist. You have shown us that our artistic abilities need not be hampered by our disease.

Pegleg, Ashley, Thelma, GregW, LindaH, Lindylanka, Boann, Ol’cs, Yam1, rosebud, burkle. I didn’t know where to put you precisely but you are invaluable assets to this board and in this fight that we have been put into.

I feel humbled when I think of what everyone on this forum is doing and that I have not been doing as much as I could and/or should. Thank you for being there for those who have needed advice and encouragement. You have made as big a difference in the SHORT run that Michael has done in the LONG run.