Remember April is Parkinson's Awareness Month...

[JerriB]

We are now into the month of April and it is Parkinson's Awareness Month!

The biggest problem I am faced with is people who say "You don't look like you are sick!"

Well for the most part my med's keep me symptom free, but I do wear out. For the longest time my husbands family could not understand why I was not doing certain things, and why I would miss family gatherings, etc.

This year we are holding an Awareness Forum in our area. We will be providing information on the "Look and Feel of Parkinson's" Why most people think we fine.

Is anyone else doing anything to promote awareness? I would be interested in knowing what is happening during this month.

[Dennis]

I sure would like to be able to copy SHERRYL KLINGLHOFER'S article. I tried to get it off Facebook but it would not line up with my printer properly.

Thanks for the article Sherryl. ~Dennis

[tlongmire in reply to Dennis]

What was the title of the article Dennis? Let me know and I'll try to post to this website.

[Carrigan]

Yes my husband who has had PD now for 17yrs and is chairman of our local PD branch. We are have a Parkinson's Awareness week starting with a service in our local church, specifically for peolple suffering with PD civic party attending and a few nibbles afterwards, been on local radio talking about PD and how it affects peoples lives and advertising what is going on in PD awareness week. which incluldes a quizz night at local pub,street collection in town and an open top bus with leaflets and support workers from PD giving out informaion. There is also support from head office with a noodle (plastic brain cell) in a marathon around yorshiire with PD awareness in mind going from different areas by different forms of transport to bring PD attention to the many who have no ideal what PD is . A busy exhausting but fun week with good results if only one person who suffers the disease or members of public are made more aware of the problems people have with the disease.

[esrob]

Hello, JerriB. I can certainly empathise with your comnments in your letter. When I am having a real Parkie day and people say, "Don't you look well." I say to them that I wish I felt as well as I look.

I have given to talks Rotary meetings, church groups and U3A about what it is like to live with Parkinson's. It is surprising how little the general public know.

Let's get them educated

[Thumbpick]

Has anyone seen "Love and Other Drugs"? imdb.com/title/tt0758752/

It stars Anne Hathaway as a 26 yo dx w/PD, and Jake Gyllenhaal as her wannabe boyfriend. An poignant and often humorous look at someone who has PD and a partner struggling to understand what she's going through, and she having trouble letting anyone "in".

there's one scene where she's trying to open a PopTart and finally gives up due to tremors and hands her bf the unopened package and says "Here's your breakfast".

Then there's one hilarious scene where she attends a PD support meeting.

HOWEVER, if you're offended by nudity and/or profanity, you'd best avoid this film.

[tlongmire in reply to Thumbpick]

It was an excellent movoe. Throughly, enjoyed it.

[CJ49 in reply to Thumbpick]

Saw it.......Loved it!

The only thing that really "bothered" me was the "advice" given to Jake

By another "caregiver" husband. (That just "hit me in the head.)

[larry33b]

Enjoyed the movie "Love and Other Drugs" even more the second time I saw it. Wonderful.

[JerriB]

Will have to see it! Thanks for sharing the information.

[Thumbpick]

To CJ49... yes, I agree. That "advice" was bothersome... but probably all too realistic in too many cases.