Hope

I sometimes let my mind wander into the future and wonder what my Parkinson’s will be like in five years and ten years from now. I have not managed to go beyond that because it seems hard to comprehend what life will be like in general in the year 2028, let alone how my Parkinson’s will manifest. Yet I do feel it is important to think about it because there will likely be practical considerations for which I need to plan and prepare while remaining full of hope.

My first hope is that there will be a cure for Parkinson’s and other movement disorders. There is active and aggressive research being done with pharmaceuticals, computer technology (brain chips) and surgical procedures. With most diseases, the more resources poured into the search for a cure, the greater the likelihood of finding one. Currently, a number of private and public organizations are actively working on a variety of treatments and cures. I am confident that something will be discovered soon.

In the meantime, how do I prepare for an inevitable decline in my physical and probably mental states? First, I hope I can prevent a bad situation from getting worse. I try to engage in things today that may benefit me tomorrow, such as yoga. Secondly, I am honest with myself that eventually I may need assistance to stay as independent as possible. Thank goodness for health insurance. Next, I get my ducks in a row by thinking of what life changes I need to make in the upcoming years. For example, I live in a fairly large home with a second floor which I am able to negotiate presently, but realize I may not be able to handle in five or so years from now. My husband and I may want to downsize to a one floor house with less upkeep. Fortunately, we do not feel the pressure to do so immediately which gives us time to really think about our next step.

Now, after all this thinking and planning, I am free to put it on the back burner and go about living in the present. I have lots of living to do, even with Parkinson’s, so I need to get to it and hope that the future brings great things.