They said it couldn't be done. They were wrong. It has been done!
Living with a Neurological condition such as Parkinson’s Disease is a bit of a pain in the arse. Let’s face it, as deteriorating conditions go, it’s pretty lousy as you’re never really sure what’s going to happen next, or, most frustratingly, you can’t rely on someone else’s experience of particular medication because the drugs we’re prescribed seem to work differently for each of us - indeed, some of these feckin drugs don’t seem to work at all ???But getting back to the deteriorating piece, there’s little doubt that PD continues to be the gift that keeps on taking (as Michael J. Fox declares) and little by little it works its insidious way into our lives. You know what, at this point I probably should feel ‘flip this blinking thing, I’m giving up...
BUT WAIT A MINUTE!
I have something to share with you and it’s this: although my Brain is probably deteriorating there is now abundant evidence that a bunch of us are fighting back and are improving - yes, improving - and as a result our Brain has learned something new! I’m speaking about SPEAKING! Our Speech and Language Therapy Support Group ‘Can You Hear Me Now’ is living, happy proof that you can turn this PD deterioration crap right down and slow it to a crawl...in reality, giving Parkinson’s Disease a veritable taste of its own medicine. Ha ha ha!! Who would have thought, eh? I’ll say no more and just direct you to the 4mins video I’ve attached here. Ok, ok, I’m in the feckin video but if you can ignore that and hear what’s being said, I think you’ll find it to be some kind of wonderful.
Honestly, this brings a tear to my eye and joy to my heart! I am so grateful, so lucky to be part of this wonderful group of people. We’ve been together over three years and I think, actually I know, we’re on to something here and I think it’s time to shout about it. To Speech and Language Therapists everywhere, thank you: you are changing people’s lives. Let’s tell everyone ??
Gary xxxx
Retired Compensation Consultant at The Standard
4 年Gary, Great to see and hear you. You sound as strong as I remember. Terry took some speech classes too. He always had such a strong voice anyway. He was worried when he practiced at home that he would bother the neighbors. He didn't. All the best to you and your family in this very odd time of social distancing. Not too hard for me. Doing fine.
Managing Principal at Edgeworth Consult
4 年Garry you are very brave I know how bad it can be, as my brother also suffers from PD he has always had a brilliant minds but like you he has found medications do help some but not all He has a new specialist who is helping him enormously he too has had great progress from speech therapy he has had a brain scan last week and will know if the regressive progress has been halted there is every indication that it has the scan will prove this , will let you know how it turns out. stay brave fight the good fight. Your friend John S
VP Human Resources International & Site Lead
4 年Great post and video Gary. Great to see and hear you! You are an inspiration to us all.
People & Programme Director at Barretstown
4 年Fantastic Gary keep it up