Once again, Jackie Christensen eloquently wrote about what it is like to live with Parkinson’s Disease. In her Washington Post story, I Can Speak for Myself, If You'll Let Me Do So, Jackie, a Parkinson's patient, eloquently describes the challenges in communication that many of us with Parkinson’s (including me) face.
In fact, Jackie hit the bull’s eye when she described me and how I sometimes struggle to get the words out. My thoughts are racing like an Olympic runner
while my speech is moseying across the road like a turtle.
It like an exaggerated version of those TV clips where the audio portion is not synchronized with the video portion.
It’s maddening for me and frustrating for those listening to me as I slowly get the words out. I observe their heads leaning forward until their patience runs out. Someone finally finishes my sentence, and everyone breathes a silent sigh of relief.
As a result, it is sometimes easier for me to ask others like my husband, Tom, to speak for me, or for me not to speak at all.
But read Jackie’s article – it says it all.
Jackie Christensen is a founding member of the Alliance of Parkinson's Health Activists. She is also the author of two books: Life With a Battery-Operated Brain - A Patient's Guide to Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery for Parkinson's Disease and The First Year---Parkinson's Disease: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed.
Her website is: at http://www.lifewithbobbook.com/
Great book suggestions. Isn't it a good feeling to know others deal with what you deal with and somehow go on?
Posted by: Diane J Standiford | June 10, 2009 at 10:54 AM
You're absolutely correct, Diane. It feels good to know that we're not alone in our struggles with chronic disease.
Kate
Posted by: Kate Kelsall | June 14, 2009 at 03:40 PM