My Other Family by Jane

My life was good.
I was part of a very supportive and loving family who have always been there for me.

Then I began to become aware that my handwriting was getting smaller, I seemed to be slowing down, I developed a limp when I was tired and I was struggling to keep going. I was exhausted

In February 2002, at the age of 46, I was diagnosed with PD.
I can remember being partly relieved because I had imagined something far worse.
My immediate reaction was that I could do something about it. Perhaps by eating the right foods, exercising, taking a pill or two the condition would improve. I began to realise that I couldn’t make things better. PD was here to stay the damage had been done
For a long time I dealt with it on my own (or so I thought). It wasn’t happening to me. I distanced myself from my family. I didn’t know another PWP. I didn’t think I needed to. As far I was concerned I was coping.

I have always found it difficult to talk to people about myself
I would happily listen to other people’s worries but I couldn’t share mine.
A friend suggested I looked on the internet to see if there was a forum
It would be up to me if I joined in.

I followed her advice and started ‘talking’ to another PWP with very similar symptoms and began to realise I wasn’t on my own there were people who understood exactly how I felt physically and mentally and I could talk to them about anything and everything.

It was like being part of a large family I began to feel more positive about the future I was in control again I was able to start planning .

Then in August 2007 I was dx with breast cancer.
Relief, fear, anger it was all there.
This time I had the support of two families.
I was able to talk about how I felt at any time of the day and night

I count myself very lucky to have become part of another family.

Jane