Missing October

My apologies for missing the meeting on October 7th.   I was, and remain, at my mother’s bedside as she comes to the end of her life. Undoubtedly, this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. This month was highly anticipated by my husband and I, filled as it was with activities and plans.  Instead, my mother got an infection that she didn’t have the strength to fight.  And here I sit. Some times you just have to accept what happens and roll with it.  And I think a discussion of how to take care of your Parkinson’s needs when you are in that situation might be  fruitful.  I have learned, for example, that walking the hospital halls at 4:30am after  attempting to sleep in a hospital chair and needing to stimulate some dopamine production is considered odd and questioned by staff.

I hear that the last meeting was wonderful.  Our thanks go to the wonderful Joy McLaughlin, a star physical therapist at INOVA Fair Oaks for a presentation that I hear was enjoyable and enlightening.  I take classes  from Joy so I can appreciate the work out she provides.  Once I’m home, I’ll put her slides online.  Maybe one of the members could write a guest post summarizing the presentation?  Anyone?

I just discovered that I hadn’t actually updated the blog with this post. My mother passed away quietly on Monday, October 12th.  Her funeral is Friday, the 16th.