Lyn’s Story.

 

It’s Feb 2006 and I’m at my G.P. picking up a prescription, when he notices a slight tremor in my left hand.

“ I believe that’s Parkinsons!” But he refers me to a Neurologist.

It’s July 2006 and the Neurologist confirms the G.P.’s diagnosis.  I notice that “Parkinson’s Victoria” hold in August 2006, a “Recently Diagnosed Seminar”. at The Centre. Ivanhoe. We booked to attend, and found it to be a very well organised and presented day, of interesting Speakers and also books, brochures and here I found the card for “our” Y.A.P. Very timely!....so much information, to try to make sense of what was going to be happening with Parky. I highly recommend these Seminars to everyone.

March 2008 and my second whammy! being diagnosed with Primary Lympohodema in the legs.  Maybe there are others out there like me....trying to balance a need to keep as active as possible for “Parky” and at the same time keeping my feet up to relieve the swelling.  The pressure socks are great, but the dull ache keeps me awake. I’m like an owl.  I nod off for a nap while reading a book or watching the telly, but can I sleep when I should?   No. I’ve become a fan of the ABC 774 radio Quiz at 15 past midnight and enjoy trying to answer the questions on various subjects.

During last year I fell and cracked 3 ribs. and then when they were better, I managed to break my shoulder a couple of months later. I don’t recommend either of those. But thankfully, they healed very well.

I’m still working part time, and have just passed the 25 year milestone last March. I’d love to keep going, but I think the time is coming soon, to make the move and retire and start a different phase of life. At the moment it seems to me that the Lymphodema is giving me much more “hassles” than the “Parky”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rob Lyon’s Story

 

I imagine my family is an elephant.

 

The mother is the head, a visionary keeping her family on track. She possesses enormous ears to detect danger, and a trunk for bathing muddy little boys. She possesses an elephantine memory and most important, female intuition.

 

I am the father. I am the body and two front legs for setting the pace. Traditionally, I am solid and strong, alert, and sensitive to threats and dangers. Reproduction? I come fully-equipped.

 

Our children bring up the rear. In my family that means one leg each. Joe has the right and because he is 8 years older than Gabriel, is in charge of waste disposal. Little Gabe   to has the biggest job of all, the left leg. His role is to keep up.

 

 

Now, imagine, if the front legs of our fanciful elephant suddenly ‘went.’ This is my family’s story.

 

We were enjoying our home in Yarraville, had enrolled Joe-Henry into his new school and were ready to welcome another baby boy into our new house. Perfect. Until I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

 

This was devastating news for a young family.

 

Physical symptoms of PD differ but generally include slowness of speech, poverty of movement, freezing, aches, pains, and sleep deprivation. Palsy or “tremors” are very common.  Then there are the emotional and psychological consequences. For the afflicted individual, the disease is a thief stealing one’s life, stealing one’s work, and changing everything.

 

It is as if the elephant has been drinking at a poisoned water-hole. My elephant was stricken, and our family  had no choice but to adapt. The effects on the entire organism are, complex and far-reaching This is a disease one  usually  associates  with the elderly but it saves it real savagery for those younger members of the herd. The disease develops rapidly piling symptom upon bewildering symptom  continually challenging until the poor beast exhausted and beaten falls to his knees, and with him his  family.

The scavengers do the rest.

 

My family has evolved into a creative beast, taking turns to carry the heavy load. Rapid changes have occurred since my diagnosis but thanks to the flexibility of our family unit, we stay more or less on course.

 

In order to cope, traditional role are sometimes  swapped and medication and. treatment become normal parts of everyday life, absorbed into the “ordinariness” of being a family.

 

For this elephant, in spite of the strain,.I am not yet on my knees we keep moving forward with the herd. We may fall back, sometimes but our setbacks are only temporary.

Parkinson’s is the tail we will never shake

But even a tail has it uses.