Parkinson's...

I went to visit my mother-in-law yesterday. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's plus and Alzheimer's around 3 years ago now and the downward spiral has been very fast, and extremely unrelenting.

When I talk about illness with people, both clients - existing and new, and in general conversation when I'm the life and soul of a 'what do you do' conversation... I almost, maybe never even talk about neurological conditions... save from mentioning MS to be one of the larger claim groups on critical illness plans. Cancer has it's place in all too many lives, but I think we're doing a disservice to people to not highlight the other side of critical illnesses in those long-term neurological illnesses like Parkinson's that - for many involved, have a bigger impact on people's lives than even that of the big C.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND - this isn't a cancer versus conversation. All critical illnesses are shit which I would hope doesn't need explaining, but the point I'm trying to articulate purely from my mother in law's perspective is that she's had this condition for three years now, and in that timeframe, she's gone from walking her dog daily and going on holiday, to being confined to a couch all day, everyday, and not being able to take herself to the bathroom. Furthermore, her social confidence is completely shattered. The shaking brought on from Parkinson's she finds so unbearable that she refuses to eat with family - of course we said we don't care at all but it's not us shaking, it's not OUR illness. This has resulted in her being very underweight, and having so little energy, that conversation is now also a thing of the past.

As I've been in the protection space for a while now, I often think 'what difference would x y z have made'. And I don't fully know how much it would have made for my mother in law. She's quite a stubborn old lass, doesn't like new people coming into her home, so I'm not sure additional care would have even been a factor, but I think having that choice would... and it would certainly have made life a little easier for her partner (a lifelong trucker, who has had to quickly transition into her carer). Don't get me wrong, he's far from the first person I'd think of when the term 'carer' comes to mind, but he's looking after her how she wants to be looked after, and there's comfort to take from that.

I'm wrapping this up now, there wasn't really an objective to it, other than to maybe make people think a bit wider than cancers and heart attacks when thinking about illnesses. And to those who do have elderly family with whom they can still go for a walk, have a chat with, spend time with - enjoy it whilst you can.

I'd be keen to hear from anyone else with a story about Parkinson's - it's such a shit illness for everyone affected by it ??