INTRODUCTION : SOS! A PARKIE IN DISTRESS

SOS! A PARKIE IN DISTRESS!

Introduction

I am a Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patient. I am a Parkie. There are many Parkies in your midst and sadly, many more to come as the world’s  aging population increases. But PD also strikes at the young (Juvenile PD).  All Parkies have a story to tell. This is my story.

It is a story  about fear, anger and denial although I am not sure it was in that order.  More importantly, it contains a lesson about life and acceptance, about the absolute need to accept absolutely whatever life throws at you. Mine is a story of family and kinship, my friends and friendships. And of course, the power of love. Without my family, my friends and the love they gave to me, I would not have survived.

This is a story that will explain the changes in a Parkie  – changes in the mind, the body and the soul. PD does not kill although it will, eventually. But it could kill a Parkie’s spirit and  that, in my opinion, could be worse than death itself.

This story will tell you about hope and hopelessness. And hopefully, hope will triumph. The pain and the agony of a career that would have assured my family a good life after retirement could be at stake. Do I tell the employers?  So this is also a story of the great debate between you and yourself. In my case, I consulted the spirit the great Shakespeare.

And he was a big help for he came up with “TO TELL OR NOT TO TELL, THAT IS THE QUESTION!”

Sigh. But that was my question.

So, ladies and gentlemen, this is the story I am compelled to tell. 

I would like to thank two persons. I got to know the first one in 1990. He became my boss, my mentor and then my friend. In his memoirs "AN APRIL FOOL's BOY" he described me as a "short Chinese man!". Thank you Claude Andre Giroux.

The second person - I met him in 1990 too. And worked with him intermittently till 1998 when a life changing event took place (Watch out for my 3rd posting on "SUHARTO OF INDONESIA - MY SWAN SONG!)". He gave me the second wind to rebuild my career. 

Because HOPE has to triumph over HOPELESSNESS.

Thank you

KK

KK+

(16) DYSKINESIA IS SUCH A SPLENDID THING!

I am just so excited! It is finally here! After 10 long years it has arrived……..

What am I talking about? Dyskinesia as in D-Y-S-K-I-N-E-S-I-A. What in the world is that?

That, my friends, is a movement disorder  that affects Parkinsons’ Disease patient after a long period of taking levodopa, a drug taken to control the symptoms of the disease. Movement disorder, in this case, refers to involuntary muscle movements over which one has no control. Examples of such involuntary movements are twitches, jerks or twisting. And occasionally,   a series of punches and karate chops from your upper limbs  followed by a generous kick to someone’s behind.  That kick, mind you, have been known to save some lucky  fellow the price of an air ticket to  Penang. Okay, I do exaggerate. Maybe to KL. My MIL, my Millie, my dear Mighty Mouth may retire her broomstick…………………..

Mixed martial arts exponents have been trying to incorporate these sudden movements as part of their repertoire of combat techniques, alas without success.  Eat your heart out, but I am not parting with my Parkinsons’ just so you could improve your standing in the world of MMA.

So yours truly, a peace loving, non-violent decent human being, someone who would not even raise a hand in self-defence,  is now, at times a lethal fighting machine himself.  Maybe the time has come to show the world I am made of sterner stuff. Next week I will sign up for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. But first, I must resolve one serious problem -  I must learn to determine the exact timing of my  dyskinesia  otherwise you can imagine the damage to body and soul……me standing at the center of the “cage”,  frozen, not moving, not fighting back - against an opponent twice my weight, half my age. And height, oh, forget about the height.............

 At this point, one of my friends will definitely  jump in and shout “Hold your horses” 

“Why is this exciting, especially if you cannot determine when you turn from your docile character into a fighting machine? “ That’s a naive question; I will humor Dandy  with a naive response.  Oops!

“Because, O Naïve One, involuntary muscular movements resulting from Parkinsonism is accepted as  reasonable defense  in cases of serious bodily injuries....or death.  And in the unlikely event of conviction, it could also be used as a mitigating factor, so no, I am not giving up my dyskinesia. As Dandy the Naive often said “Got money also cannot buy!” Oops! again......

I have to stop for now. I  think my series of  punches and karate chops is about to start, and  what perfect timing. My MIL is at the door. My left leg is itching too.

This time, I promise you, I will send her back to where she belongs and not have to pay for transportation.  I will plead “knee jerk reaction” if I am charged with causing serious bodily injuries.

Bye bye Millie.