HOW I OVERCOME THE PARKINSON'S BLUES !

HOW I OVERCOME THE PARKINSON'S BLUES !

I do everything to make me the best that I can be. 

No one wants to be around a moaner groaner.

Going outside can be the key

It works for me.

I don' t want to be a loner.

When the weather is bad,

I turn on the music instead

to an uplifting beat. 

I dance or just put a bounce in my feet.

I did not choose this disease of mine.

I meditate and exercise

To overcome the pain I feel

It can be a struggle at times

I tell myself I will feel fine.

I look in the mirror and smile at me

Or act goofy making faces at myself

It is ok to act silly as a child

Anything to lift that over bearing cloud.

Do anything to remove those blues,  just like these people do........

Exercise is one of the best defenses against Parkinson's Disease ~ This is Especially True for Those in a Wheelchair

Some mornings I feel like this :

After my medicine kicks in:

At times, I want to act like a kid, 

but after trying this for a while

I realize this isn't my style .

I know it is hard to relate, 

It has nothing to do with age.

So let's not try to debate,

I am just out of shape.

Exercise is one of the best defenses 

against Parkinson's Disease!

For those of you in a wheelchair

This is for you.

Turn your music on and move that body.

You can stretch your arms, 

Clap your hands to the rhythm.

Shout out loud ~ Let's stretch those lungs.

You can do it. I know you can.

We are in this together so lets do it all over again.

You can stretch your arms, 

Clap your hands to the rhythm.

Shout out loud ~ Let's stretch those lungs.

Let's add one more thing!

If  you can move your feet, lets shake them.

You can do it. I know you can.

Let's  take a moment to catch your breath 

And we will start all over again.

By doing this for 20 minutes each day

You are on your way to feeling better each day.

You should check with your doctor first to see if it is ok.

Remembering my First Parkinson's Unity Walk in Central Park

I am sitting at my desk, remembering my first Parkinson's Unity Walk in Central Park in 2008. I met so many people with Parkinson's, their friends and family members, from all over the  world.

Meredith Vieira  from the Today Show.

We talked for a while about PD and her husband with MS.

Janet Reno

Janet Reno, Former U.S. Attorney General was there because of her having Parkinson's.

May May 's father: Muhammid Ali
May May Ali , reading another one of her beautiful poems she wrote for this event.

May May Ali

Crossing the Finish Line.

         This was a very special day. I was in the wheel chair quite a bit and the walk was almost 2 miles. I was pushed in the wheel chair until  a few feet from the Finish Line. I got up out of the chair and walked across the Finish Line. That was a real challenge for me.
This was the highlight of my Day!

I had raised over $2,000.00 that year in donations that went directly to the Unity Walk for Parkinson's Disease Research. 100% goes to the research because of all of the volunteers. Yes, I was very proud. 

I will always remember this!  Thousands of people attended.   I am one of the lucky ones!

My husband Larry & I

I May Need Your Help One Day!

Help - I have fallen!

There may be a time that you see me fall, 

 I usually get up without making a sound.

But if ever you see me on the ground,

Unable to even crawl.

Please help me, or make an emergency call. 

I don't want to be a statistic at all.

Swallowing and Choking!

Off and on with Parkinson's

I may have problems  

swallowing  and food may get stuck

I may not be able to talk.

I may be moving my head around feeling like a shmuck.

I can breathe a little and need your assistance, 

by using your hand tapping me hard on my back a few times.

Please believe me, there won't be any resistance.
But if my hands are around my throat,

If I begin turning blue, I am choking and need your help.

Please do the  Heimlich maneuver until the food pops.

I will begin to feel like my old self.

Poem by Maryum "May May" Ali Read at the 20th Parkinson's Unity Walk ( 2014)

I met "May May" at one of the Parkinson's Unity Walks. She is such a kind and wonderful person. God gave her the gift to write poetry and she does this every year at the annual Parkinson's Unity Walks in Central Park, New York City.  I wanted to share this with you. This poem is about her father, Muhammad ALI and Michael J. Fox. 

2014

THE JOURNEY By May May Ali Over 30 years ago, my father's voice was a little louder than a whisper, and we thought it resulted from boxing. I have ‎a friend who had aches in his back. He thought it came from playing hockey. Unbeknownst to both of these men, their journeys had already begun. As years pasted, they were diagnosed with the disease, Parkinson. Like forks in the road their journeys were filled with choices that must be taken. And the roads that were traveled greatly impacted the outcomes of their situations. There's a path of inactivity, isolation, submission, and defeat. Another path is paved with proactivity, defiance, and a refusal to be beat. Like all of you right here and now about to walk together in Unity. Or like someone with PD exercising regularly and engaging in their community. Yes the journey is not easy, but your outlook doesn't have to be doom and blue. You can choose to manage your journey or allow it to manage you. Your life with PD is still special, so partake in what grows your smile. Meanwhile as we support a cure for PD, may your journey be filled with determination, continued hope, and style.

Memorial Day!

At 12:01 Today, please stop what you are doing, for a moment of silence. This is to show respect for the ones who have died and to pray for those who have served or continue to serve in our military.

Also please say a prayer for the families as well.

I would like to say, being a wife of a retired Marine Mustang,

God Bless and Semper Fi. 

Good Morning!

Good Morning. Come in for a while and let me tell you a story.

We all have a little something that ails people from time to time.
What may be minor to one, could be major to another.

I am a caregiver, as well as a person with Parkinson's Disease. I prefer to assist you so I don't have to dwell on me.


As I was saying earlier, I want to tell  you this story: 

A girl about the age of 9 used to visit the two women on the block in which she lived. This girl would  be known as the little Rogers girl. The Rogers girl stopped to see Ms. Betsy, the woman was blind and lived alone. So this little girl would visit Mrs. Betsy, they would talk and talk mainly about the little girl and how her day was. After visiting Ms. Betsy the little Rogers girl would stop by and spend time with Ms. Teats. Ms. Teats had half of her mouth gone from cancer and Ms. Teats knew most people  stayed away because it was terrible to see and smell. The  children avoided Ms. Teats. It was sad that  Ms. Teats had no interaction with neighbors, except for the little girl who stopped by everyday.

Ms. Teats looked forward to the little Rogers girl. This went on for a few years and then Ms.Teats passed away. 

The little Rogers girl became a teenager and she would visit Ms. Betsy  once a week now.  Time passed and the the Rogers girl married and moved away.
Soon the Rogers girl had a baby and visited Ms. Betsy. Although she couldn't see, she enjoyed holding the baby. Ms. Betsy hugged the Rogers girl and baby, knowing that would probably be their last visit.  Ms. Betsy was thrilled and talk about the wonderful time she had holding the Rogers' girl's baby. She talked about it for years.

Ms. Betsy soon discovered she had cataracts. After surgery, she was able to see. Ms. Betsy 
wanted to see the Rogers girl, who had spent so much time with her. She only saw her pictures.

The sad truth is, that little Rogers girl is me and Ms. Betsy died before I returned  from Japan. I do regret not being able to get back from Japan before she passed.

I am thankful that I was able to be with these two courageous women.  Ms. Teats, fighting cancer and enduring all the pain. Her cancer was very bad. I could see her teeth because most of her face on the one side was gone and it smelled. But I was able to look beyond that. Ms. Teats had such warm eyes.

Ms. Betsy was very dear to me. She made me feel so special all those years. It is sad that Ms. Betsy had been blind for over twenty years with cataracts and never knew it.

I know that we will cross paths one day. Well it is time that I begin my exercises. Have a wonderful day.

Let's Fight Depression!

Depression usually goes hand in hand with Parkinson's Disease.  This is a battle for me to over come depression and low self-esteem. This may be a problem for you too.

                            The beginning of overcoming depression:

ONE:

TWO:

THREE:                    Smile at yourself in the mirror - it is ok.

You can even make faces at your self

Four:  A smile is better than a frown

 Five: Go outside breathe the fresh air. Feel the sunshine for a few minutes. 

Wow- You are on your way to overcome depression!

By going through the above steps, I feel so much better.

Whether you have an illness or occasionally have the blues, 
try the above and you will feel better too. 

Agent Orange and Our Military

Married in 1966, that same year my husband Larry enlisted in the Marine Corps. 

After becoming an E-8, 

Larry went on to be a Warrant Officer and finally a Captain before retiring in 1988. They call him a Mustang, one of the few in the Marine Corps. I volunteered many hours as the Manager of the Navy Relief Society. (helping the military during an emergency or need)

I hold a special place in my heart for all Military, who served honorably, and their Families

Viet Nam was a very hard war. We lost so many in that war.

For the lucky troops that arrived home safely, they were treated badly by our own people.
They were cursed at, spit on and so forth...

What is difficult for them now, is finding out they have Parkinson's Disease.  Caused by Agent Orange, and other Pesticides in which our government used to kill mosquitos where our  troops were located, in the jungle of Viet Nam. For the longest time, the military did not accept the idea that it happened while they were in the military and that  they were exposed to something that had caused the disease.

Wars are very hard, The many countries in which we have had to send our troops to defend  and help them.  So many of our military have returned without limbs, because of the bombs being planted to explode. My sincere thanks goes to the Military and their families. We must not forget, the spouse left at home, raising the children and worrying about his or her spouse overseas. It is also hard on the children.

A Big Thank you to the Military, their spouses and their children!

 I think about Memorial Day and how Proud I am of our Military. The sacrifices they made and  the struggles they have had to deal with.

I am also the Proud wife of my Marine husband, Larry.

To all Military and their Families,

Thank you and  God Bless.

Waking Up and Fighting the Blahs!

At times I wake up feeling Blah.

I know what to do to fight the blues.

I go out in the sunshine  and take a walk,

 before it gets to hot.

While I walk , I see birds flying  overhead

as I enjoy seeing the beauty of nature .

There are ducks walking near the pond.

I have seen the gator this morning,

 sunning on the bank of the pond.

I am back home now, feeling great.

If you get the blahs, go out in the sunshine,

It does wonders for me and I hope it will work for you.

God Bless

Music is Healing.

When I feel down and all alone,

I play music to help my mood 

My spirits are lifted

and become renewed.

I can see that it's time to start my exercise

But today I changed my routine

As I listen to the music,

I become energized.

Will You Be My Friend ?

I

If you let me, I will be your friend.

 I am here for you until we win.

I will encourage you to fight this,

by believing that it is not the end.

Put a smile on your face and try to move.

You are special and can improve,

Just try your best and the rest will come

I will help you, so you don't succumb.

Please don't worry, and don't frett,

Working together with no regrets.

It's not easy moving limb by limb

The pain gets worse as we begin.

I know that I am not the only one 

with all this pain.

That's why it is important to me,

to help others with the same.

Please remember, you are not alone

You can always call me on the phone.

Life is Beautiful!

Life is such a beautiful thing.

It is a precious gift we were given.

We never know what each day will bring.

So lets all start living.

Lets fight this monster deep inside

and believe that we can to it.

The support we give one another,

can get each one of us through it.

So will you join me, and be my friend?

God Bless

Wow -What A Great Day!

What a great day- here in Florida

The sun is shinning, the humidity is low.

I went to my golf lessons

and returned back home.

I want to be outside,

 yet I am totally wiped out.

I have slacked off of my routine

And now I have lost my energy.

 Should I make Parkinson's an excuse, 

and  sit and pout.

That's not who I am,

I will fight Parkinson's,

As I move my body, sing and shout.

I will find my strength

 from my insides  and out.

I ask that you join me to fight

Parkinson's disease.

We will win this battle

together you and me.

My Doctor's Visit

My  morning was a RUSH,  getting to the doctors across town. I must be there 15 minutes prior to my  appointment time,  just in case., I was told.

Just in case of what?........... (no answer)

I arrived and signed in.  I was instructed to give them my insurance cards again.
"Has anything changed since your last visit?" 

I state,  I was here last week.  The person said,"I'm sorry but we must ask these questions." I said, nothing has changed.

I sit and wait and wait. 

Finally  I was called back to the room and the nurse weighs me, takes my blood pressure  and pulse.The nurse asks me, "Has anything changed since your last visit?"  I said, I already answered  that to the person in the front.

The nurse states. I am asking about your health. The front office person was asking for financial reasons.

I state nothing has changed, just here for my six month check-up. The nurse gathers  up  the paperwork and turns to me and states, The doctor will be in as soon as he can."

Again I wait and wait.

The doctor  enters and says, "Good morning. How are you?"  I am alright, I said,  just waiting to hear about the results of my blood tests. The doctor says, "Has anything changed since our last meeting? "

 "The person at the front ask me, apparently for financial reasons, the nurse asked me, so she could put it in my chart and now you asked. No nothing has changed. " 
 The doctor states, that he can not read her writing.  "I said thats a switch."We both laughed.

We went over my results and the doctor listen to my breathing and gave me three different referrals  to other specialists.

I think to myself, I have waited 40 minutes for the nurse and then another 30 minutes for the doctor.

I was only with the doctor for 20 minutes.

Now I have to visit new specialists, fill out forms,  and I am sure I will hear," Has anything changed since you saw your primary doctor."

When  I retired, I thought I was on a vacation forever. 

Now I know the truth.

I am not on vacation, I am that old person, 

always at the doctors waiting

and waiting just to hear those wonderful words, 

"Has anything changed  since your last visit? "

 Have a wonderful day!

It began as a Bad Day!

I  fainted this morning and fell outside

And finally stopped and realized,
I must take care of me.

I wait until my second set of medicines kicks in,
giving power and strength from within.

In my younger years I was flexible
but PD has taken that away from me.
Making it unescapable.

Although it seems funny to say this now,
I push my body to move somehow......

 I fight this battle of mine,
 and will fight until the end of my time.


God Bless!

Thank You, God

I thank you God for another day,
Sitting on the lanai as I pray.

I saw the movie," Heaven is for Real. "

It was a very good family film. 

Instead of the normal, 

blood, guts and thrills.

Every now and then it is wonderful, 
to take me away  from my usual day

Upon arriving back home,
 it is time to exercise  
I don't want to be rigid
I want to be energized
The temperature dropped, 
and it became frigid.

I felt prohibited from moving my body 
When this occurs, I stop and say, 
O.K, it is time to call it a day.