[no subject]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 1995 23:04:30 -0400
From: Christopher A. Hudson <cahudson@xxxxxxxx>
To: Barbara Patterson <patterso@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Unsubscribe PARKINSN

Barb,

Very much thanks for your reply.

We are located in Florida - Dad did get stuff from ADPA - but as I mentioned
in my previous e-mail - I'm not sure what they do and how effective they are.

Personally, I'm most interested in any group which PROACTIVELY spends its
money on direct fundamental research, how to "live with" PD, and educates
gerontologists on how to deal with it. Any group which has any chance of
fighting "capitation" also gets my 1000% endorsement.

Dad had great trouble swallowing near the end - aspirated his food, and got
pneumonia. Somehow, I missed how bad the swallowing problem was - he denied
it - and though I was "watching for it" - I didn't see it until too late. We
did immediately get him a "peg tube" - as others in the group had mentioned
- but it was really too late. He had no reserves to fight the pneumonia, and
that was it.

Also, our gerontologist and neurologist underestimated the "anxiousness",
depression and sleeplessness problem. Their solution was Atavan and Demerol
- they knew nothing about melatonin - for or against. I got some at a health
food store - but nobody knew if it could go thru the tube. So that also was
too late. Plus, there is perhaps too little questioning of our medical
professionals by PD patients and caregivers - an artifact of the high
respect we hold for them. I suggest this is  unhealthy as well, and the more
education "laymen" can get - the better all around.

In short, its easy to get the impression that, when it comes to PD, "medical
science" is somewhat less exact than astrology - or at least economics.

So any group that effectively educates the "medical profession" -
particularly gerontologists - also gets my vote. (Here, the neurologists are
way over-booked, and the primary medical interface for Dad was a hard
working, overworked gerontology guy. While the neurologist was also hard
working and overworked - he saw Dad maybe once for every 10 times our
general gerontologist did. The gerontologist was the "front line" - and here
is where education might really pay off).

Best regards,

Chris

P.S. - its ok to use my name anytime if it adds anything.
cahudson@xxxxxxxx




>Hi, Chris.  I am very sorry to hear of your loss.  I'm not sure which
>group would make the best use of a donation...I also don't know where you
>are located.  If you can let me know where you are, I will post a message
>to the list asking for suggestions (I won't use your name) and will let
>you know the result.  Again, Chris, you have my sympathy.  Barb
>
>============================================================================
>Barbara Patterson                              patterso@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>HSC 2J22                                       905-525-9140, ext. 22403
>                       School of Nursing
>============================================================================
>
>