Things Lost and Things Gained

Have you ever heard someone say that Parkinson’s can be blamed for much and many a thing? I have.

And why not blame our woes on this disease? It’s taken much and many a thing from us. Things that we, at one time in our lives, had full control over. Things about which we had some say. 

Parkinson’s disease (and other diseases some people don’t know “what to do with”) can be blamed for the loss of things physical and of things emotional. For troubles encountered in the financial realm and for things we must struggle with in the mental realm. It can be responsible for the loss of relationships and the loss of joy and happiness we once cherished and held dear.

Things lost

Broken marriages.

Irritability.

Pain and fears without names.

Can this disease also be blamed for the loneliness you feel standing deep within a crowd? Are we able to blame tears we cannot control or screaming we cannot contain on something we cannot see — this thing we call a “disease?” I say yes.

In its clutches, we can feel as if we are being tossed about within and then turned inside out.

It often seems as if all we do is wrong. The masked look on our face is constantly being misunderstood. There are things we can’t say and things we can’t do. We would if we could, but no more are they ours to accomplish on our own. 

Our legs won’t get us where we want or need to go fast or safe enough. Our fingers won’t move our pen across pages we yearn to fill.

Can we really blame Parkinson’s for all that garbage and pain? I’d like to believe that’s a choice we do have, to blame it all on a disease that steals and destroys, leaving us powerless and without much of a voice of our own — literally.

I don’t know why a select group — a band of brave warriors and a flock of faithful friends — have been chosen to “endure for a cure.” I do know that it is only by sticking together that we will make it through.

In the gamut of things gained, we step back and wonder what we have reaped through our pain and suffering, if anything.

Things gained

“Pay it forward” was a common phrase a while back, the idea being that if someone did something kind for you, you would hopefully pay the kindness forward to someone else. Think about that in the realm of Parkinson’s disease and things gained. 

In no way do I mean pay pain and suffering toward someone else! Instead, pay forward what we have learned from this disease — the encouragement, the wisdom, and the knowledge that we can offer to others — to those who are not as far along as we are.

It is a kindness we all can share, and share in, despite what we have lost. 

***

Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.