I’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of concern that the people at church have shown to me since they have found out about my diagnosis. I’ve always known that our church members were particularly loving and compassionate when someone was sick or there was a death in a family, but I’m seeing it directed at me this time. We’ve recently had a greatly loved church member die of complications from Parkinson’s, which is probably why everyone has been so solicitous, too.

All I can say when they say how sorry they are to hear about the Parkinson’s diagnosis is that it’s OK, because that’s really the way I feel. I just haven’t gotten upset about it. I’m not saying I won’t at some point in the future, but for now, God’s GRACE is holding me steady.

I did have a chance to talk to the other person at church who has PD last night, to see if he had trouble with his stomach when he started on the meds. He didn’t have any problems at all, which I’m glad of, for his sake. I already had a very touchy digestive system, having just finished a long bout with colitis, so it’s not really surprising that the meds are giving me trouble. At least we’ve finally had a chance to talk, and it feels good knowing there’s someone I know who is going through the same thing I am, even though he’s much older than I am. He’s been on meds for five years already.