lifeline…

When your own words become the words you once sought

When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease just over five years ago, my world was rocked.
At 45 years old….this disease was not even on my radar.
I left the neurologist’s office that day with a whole lot of questions, very few answers, and not one single piece of educational information or literature. Nothing.

information underload

I am an information-seeker in the most normal of situations. Place me in unfamiliar territory and information is as crucial to my survival as breathing.
In those early days following my diagnosis, the Parkinson’s Foundation was that breath for me.
I spent every waking moment buried in their website…hanging on to their blog posts, patient stories, and libraries as I would a lifeline.

It is my absolute honor to have received an email from the Parkinson’s Foundation this afternoon.

Those patient stories that I clung to…?

The words that rang with so much strength and hope in the middle of so many questions and so much fear?

MY story is now one of THOSE stories.
My story is a patient feature of the Parkinson’s Foundation at parkinson.org.

The timing of this recognition and email is undoubtedly a very big God-wink.

cleveland calling

I leave tomorrow morning for a very heavy few days at Cleveland Clinic and this was just the reminder and boost of confidence my heart, mind, and body needed.
Over the next four days, I will undergo another series of scans, lab draws, and consultations with four different specialists. We are getting closer to some answers and with that comes an awful lot of emotions.
Hopeful fear…? Fearful hope? Just plain fear…? It’s all there. And I need you.
Thank you to each and every one of you that has and continues to pray with me, cry with me, and hope with me.
You are the strength I rely on when my own is fleeting.