"God give me the grace to trust you about my Parkinson's Disease"

I was walking out to the parking lots at the clinic for the MSU School for Human Medicine while talking to my daughter Krista about my diagnosis of having Parkinson’s Disease when she started to cry.  I had everything I could do to not lose it myself. 

 

My appointment had been with a neurologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating the disease.  He said, it was too soon to make a judgement about how advanced the disease had become.  Over the past several months, it had become more and more difficult to get off our soft couch and it seemed like I was becoming a prisoner of our commode to take a poop.  I couldn’t get off without multiple tries.

 

My voice had disintegrated to the point where a once strong tone was reduced to an almost whisper.  This had been developing for several months.  I walked with itty-bitty steps and it was with a real stooped look putting a tension on my back that was untenable.  My primary care provider prescribed 20 physical therapy sessions.  It helped, but wasn’t the answer.

 

The physical therapist asked me if I had ever been evaluated for Parkinson’s.  I hadn’t.  PT was hard for me at times.  But I saw the consequences of long-standing poor posture.  I got a referral to a neurologist from my doctor who did a biopsy on my tongue.  She was very understanding of the symptoms I described.

 

After his diagnosis yesterday, the doctor prescribed carbidopa-levodopa.  If I understand correctly, it restores the dopamine in my neurons which is key in transmitting commands to my body.

 

So what does that mean for me and my wife Gladys?

 

For me, it’s done wonders for my prayer life.  I’m much more sensitive to others with health problems and I pray for them faithfully.  I know I’m getting older and that I’ve been blessed in the ailments I’ve had.  However, the list if growing and this is a big one.

 

I remember what God said in Romans 12:12.  “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.”

 

My various biopsies of stuff inside my head came back benign.  A lot of people were praying for me.  I intend with the help of God to do the same for others.  More later.