Dealing with Parkinson's from both sides!
Stephanie Odom
Today I've been working on Father Daughter items and it always seems to make me really want to dive in more and more to learning about this speed bump that is effecting my dad and our family. I say speed bump because it's not something that is going to stop my dad but just slow him up a bit. While working on the line today I came across a news flash that Robin Williams was in the early stages of Parkinson's. Of course my mom must have seen it the same time I did because she calls me saying "did you see". My family never really discusses things but rather goes into action to correct, so anytime the door opens to discuss it I take it. It's always tears whenever this discussion starts because it's my daddy and he is the strong one and nothing ever get to him and he is never sick so seeing the effects this "speed bump" has on him is hard. I see and hear the terrible situations some people with this disease are faced with such as depression and severe physical disabilities just to name two of so many and I am so grateful my dad is as healthy as he is. I feel like we as family and friends sometimes don't realize the effect of how we rest and respond can make the one with Parkinson's feel. Speaking from what my dad says he just wants people to treat him normal and not get frustrated and for him to feel needed. This breaks my heart when I hear this. I want nothing more than for my dad to feel needed and as strong as he always has been and is. Parkinson's affects the family as well, the pain of seeing our loved one go through this sometimes within us turns into frustration. While the person we love is going through this and having to re navigate their life, we in a different way are as well. It's so important for us to talk and figure all of this out together and help one another. Sometimes going into action is great but talking it through is as well. To hear my moms voice shake when she speaks about it really hurts but at the same time puts a smile on my face. To know that my dad and all of us are always taken care of makes me very thankful. Seeing two people through whatever life throws are locked hand in hand and tackling it together, give me inspiration, hope and much gratitude!