Thanks and gratitude to caregivers
 

To Ursula Schulz, my beloved caregiver; to Linda Rabin, my Continuum therapist / teacher, and then to a long list of people who have been helpful and kind to me, including many on this Neurotalk site, I send my thanks and gratitude. The caregivers; those who take care of us, often have the hardest role to play in our Parkinson’s story, and they often get little help or support in return. I can’t name them all here; the list would be too long and I might forget some. But make your own list, and thank them when you can and hold them warmly to your heart.

We have seen things, good and bad, that Parkinson’s brings to us. The bad steps out to front stage all the time; but we all know in our hearts that the good makes all of life worthwhile. To those who open their hearts to us, I repeat this common prayer:

Having Parkinson’s, the most stunning discovery is when the clouds part, rainbows appear, the heavens open and angels dressed in white descend ladders, singing praises to the Majesty of Creation. It is very surprising the first time you see it, but then you start to realize it happens all the time. I’m not saying it becomes routine; I am saying you start to join in the singing.

From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring

Agape is not for mortals? Well, then, if these be not mortal, then there are a lot of angels and saints. Having Parkinson’s, we have a vantage point to witness the generosity of the human heart, the beauty of the Truth and the truthfulness of Beauty, the good will among people; the surprising dedication of those who consecrate time and soul to doing saintly things and magical things and effective things, working bravely and fiercely and lovingly on the front lines where the casualties are the heaviest. As Toulouse Lautrec said in Moulin Rouge --- it is spectacular, spectacular.

From this broken hill
I will sing to you

Where do all these angels come from? Don’t they read the newspapers? This is supposed to be a cynical society, a “me, me, me” generation. Fear and contempt and greed and war and rumours of war. But let us bring forth witnesses who have glimpsed the moment when people in despair start to weep with joy, when a painter swoons in front of a Vermeer, when a first responder runs into a building that everyone else is fleeing, when a nurse works the night-shift in an understaffed emergency ward, when Parkinson’s Apathy and Parkinson’s Anxiety are switched off in an instant, and people who can hardly walk get up and dance to the Beauty of it all. We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses There are millions of such witnesses; you can hear the angels sing from above. And you can learn to sing with them. As Jeanine Young-Mason. says, compassion is substantially a learned behavior, and hope is contagious.
To our caregivers, we send thanks and gratitude.

Beautifully expressed, Bob
 

This is Mr. Jaye writing, care partner to one of the loveliest souls I have ever known. To be a care partner can be a burden, yes, but it also a privilege, an opportunity to love another in a very concrete way, and as such, greatly rewarding. Sadly, many partners are initially overwhelmed by the magnitude of what lies ahead for them and for their beloved but medically challenged partners, and simply bolt before getting to know what rewards lie in engaging in the struggle against PD. This is especially true of male partners; although no research has been done regarding PD, there is a strong corollary with what partners do when people are hit with MS, which has been researched. I am becoming increasingly concerned with reaching male partners of the newly diagnosed. Giving love and attention and assistance to one who has PD won't kill you, it will make you stronger. If a blessing were to have a physical shape, it would be that of a boomerang.

So, please know, Bob, that your expression of gratitude is gratefully received. We care partners are much too human to think we are angels, but it feels good to be acknowledged. PD can be humiliating, and it takes humility to accept care and to express gratitude. The honor is all mine in being allowed to partner with Jaye. Keep posting, my friend, you are doing a beautiful thing.

Mr. Jaye