A Difficult Time, but a Time to be Hopeful and Grateful, too.

I have been away for awhile, and for good reason. My Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (PD) in 1990. He has lived with, and managed pretty well for 20 years, with the care of his doctors, and most importantly, the concern and nurturing of my Mother, his wife for over 60 years.

Unfortunately, and we all knew this day would come (though we had that fact tucked way, way back in our minds), he is now very ill, truly struck down with the advanced stages of the disease. It is a heart-break and as  a family, we feel helpless, but to be there for him as we can, pray for him and for guidance from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

My Dad was admitted to a hospital last Monday for a particular episode, and then transferred to a rehab facility on Tuesday, where he remains to this day. Our family is all taking turns visiting him, but it is exhausting and we can only take one day at a time.

Interestingly enough, the disease has been recorded from ancient times, not as Parkinson's, but accounting particular symptoms that today we would acknowledge as PD. Even an Egyptian papyrus describes resembling symptoms!  Though there were treatises written in the 17th Century, it was not until 1817 that English doctor James Parkinson (at left) published his definitive essay on particular six cases. His "Essay on the Shaking Palsy" described the tremor, abnormal posture and gait, diminished muscle strength and the way the disease progresses over time. The disease was named in his honor.

Today, the campaign for information, awareness and a cure for Parkinson's has a TULIP symbol as a logo. Why?  In 1980, a Dutch horticulturalist, who had Parkinson’s, developed a new cultivar of tulip and named it after Dr. James Parkinson, the English doctor who originally described the condition.

I am greatly saddened by the events of the past week, but it is December, and it is a time, according to my Christian Orthodoxy, to be hopeful and grateful. I am hopeful that God will be merciful to my Dad and our family, and I am grateful to see how we, as a family have pulled together, risen to the occasion, kept our heads, looked to be proactive. I am also grateful to friends who have reached out to be supportive, to keep us in their prayers. If I am missing in action for awhile, now you will know why.