Scooters and Other Assorted Phobias

 
Last week, I panicked when I saw seven scooters lined up outside of a restaurant on the ship of a Caribbean cruise sponsored by the Parkinson Research Foundation.  I suddenly realized that the drivers of these scooters most likely had Parkinson’s Disease, some at advanced levels, and all had mobility issues and needed these devices to get around.

I had flashbacks about a night 15 years ago when my husband, Tom, and I unknowingly stumbled into a young onset Parkinson’s support group meeting. People arrived at this meeting on foot, while others arrived with walkers, canes, walking sticks, scooters, wheelchairs, and one was even wheeled in by stretcher. I wondered if this was what the people with young onset Parkinson’s looked like, what must those with late-onset look like? I wanted no part of any onset Parkinson’s and left the meeting during the break. Tom and I had nightmares for three consecutive nights. Thus the origin of my scooters and other assorted (walkers, canes, walking sticks, wheelchairs, stretchers) phobias.

Obviously it’s not the scooters that I’m afraid of! The real issue is what does using a scooter or other assistive device represent to me.

It represents my fear of living with Parkinson’s if I lose my mobility.

It represents my fear of losing my independence.

It represents my fear of dying with Parkinson’s.

What does fear look like?

What does fear feel like?

But how can I not be afraid?

Comments

[Mary Spremulli]

Perhaps fear is geographic, Kate. I have lived in SW Florida for the last 20 years, and it seems half of the population are using an assistive device, eg: scooter, cane, walker, hearing aid, etc., and all to remain independent.In fact, I introduced my own dad to his first cane while he was visiting Florida. Here, in the sunshine, he accepted it's use for the first time, stopped falling, and used it from that day forward.Maybe the perfect place to try those things out is on a cruise, where the sun is shining, everyone is smiling, and judgement is suspended for a week.

Mary

[Kate Kelsall]

Perhaps you are on to something, Mary, about fear being geographic. Out west, independence is highly valued and imperfections are less tolerated. I have always associated independence with moving on one's own without assistance. Judgment was suspended for a week on the cruise and for that I was grateful.

Kate