Seeking support and information

I have always found that when dealing with any difficult situation that ultimately I cannot avoid – or control – I must find ways to control and manage what I can. For me, information is the key. Learning as much as I can so that I can make informed choices and feel some element of control is the key.

So, I read from websites such as the ‘Michael J Fox’ foundation and read articles written by people like me, who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and what helped them in the early days. Much like this Blog and my hopes that it will also help others through my experiences.

I have joined the local MS & Parkinson’s Society and through them am advised of opportunities for learning and support. One of these has just come up and it is a conference in New Zealand for people diagnosed with Parkinson’s Under 65. Absolutely ideal for someone like me, who is actively seeking out support and information. I have an amazingly supportive husband and I have asked if he would come to the conference and he has agreed it would be something he would do. This is hugely important, because this is not just my journey, but something we embark on together.

I will take any opportunity I can to learn from the ‘experts’ about this thing I call ‘Parkies’ and a conference is the ideal place, for after all the ‘experts’ often aren’t so much the learned speakers, but the people like me who have the lived experience day to day of what works for them.