Courageous Steps for Parkinson's

  I am married to a wonderful,active man, who was diagnosed with PD, 12years ago. His 1st known symtom was actually in 1995, when he started stumbling when he was running. Gene was always active, playing sports & running before that. In 95 he had orthoscopic surgery on his right knee, which helped arthritis pain, but did not help the tightening of his knee that caused him to stumble. It wasn't until he went to a Dr. for his shoulder which he blamed on injury, that the tremer started & finally got the diagnosis of PD.

  Gene's PD Dr., David Riley, at UH, offered Gene the oportunity to go into a drug trial program. He was on that double blind study for about 2yrs. It turned out he was taking Mirapex, which he still takes 4 times a day with additions  added over the years.

  It has been a tremendous adjustment for both of us. Probably the greatest change for me at 1st was I have to do most of the driving. And, of course, PATIENCE.

  This spring, at his regular visit to Dr. Riley , it was suggest ed that he have the DBS(deep brain stimulation) surgery. He finally got through all the pre -op testing only to have the schedualed surgery scratched because the anithesiologist thought his heart rate was to low to be safe. 8-05, he had a pace maker put in with the assurance that he could then have the DBS. We are anxiously waiting to be reschedualed.

  Through all this, Gene hasn't let PD slow him down anymore than he has to. He still plays golf, works in the yard, when I need some help & right now he is downstairs finishing our basement.

  I'm 63 & Gene is 62, but we often wonder at that. Where did the time go? I pray everyday we continue to take care of ourselves many more years. I love my yard & garden & my family, which are all out of state. WE went to Little Italy, for the"Feast" and it was a long

walk with a few rests, on the way to the car at 10pm, but it was great fun for both of us.

  We have participated in other fund raisers for cancer & ALS, so I feellike we should be able to recuit some more agile friends & family to "run/walk" for PD. How can we get a letter out .?