Walking along an uneven track near the beach today, it occurred to me – not for the first time – that at some stage this may be difficult for me. Then, straight away something else occurred to me…
Yes, maybe one day I won’t be able to walk so well over uneven ground, but so too will many others who don’t have Parkies. I am part of a Facebook group and many of the contributors have had the condition for many years and are still active and not needing any assistance to mobilise. Look at actor Michael J Fox (MJF). He has had Parkinson’s for about 30 years (give or take) and still he maintains a level of independence many would envy.
I sometimes take it for granted a bit that Parkies will mean that I will one day need mobility aids, like a walking stick, frame or even a wheelchair. However, who says that Parkies will be the cause of any possible mobility issues. It may well not be the case. Many people have other sudden health events that have this outcome and in a shorter timeframe than someone who faces issues with their mobility due to Parkies.
So, I will endeavour not to look at loss of mobility due to Parkies as a given. It may be that I have 20+ years – I’m aiming to beat MJF – of good mobility and an active life. I will try not to prejudge and overthink this kind of loss of independence because it could be many, many years…. or it could be tomorrow, from some other cause.
So, the message to myself is this. Don’t assume any sort of timeframe or negative outcome for mobility due to Parkies. Instead, make the most of the mobility I have in the here and now and maximise opportunities to do so.
My journey with Parkinsons 