The PLWP Journals
Therapeutic for Journalist and Reader Alike
by Nan and Bren
We are always looking for ways of enhancing PLWP. From the very beginning, the journals have been one of our most appealing offerings. One of the many notes of appreciation for the journals was posted recently on the MGH Parkinson’s Forum by pkell:
“When I first realized I might have pd I began searching the internet for information. What I read was horrifying to me. I spent two years trying to inform myself about the disease all the while becoming more and more afraid of knowing. I could only read for 5 or 10 minutes at a time.
After I was finally diagnosed I knew I had to become familiar with my new companion and quite by accident I found this forum and then plwp and the journals of these wonderful sharing caring people.
I found humor, anger, faith, courage, despair and triumph here, along with friends who knew not only how I felt, but shared how they had come to grips with those same feelings. I wouldn't have made it without you”
We agree with pkell and many others who have expressed much of the same comments over the years.
A long-time journalist on PLWP, Kathy Webster tells us that ...
"I would be lost if i didnt have a way to vent living with PD! i am truly grateful for having my journal. yes, sometimes we are down, others we're applauding ourselves for life's challenges that we were able to successfully handle! ”
Kathy's remark was taken from the same thread as pkell's. Her words are typical of the many comments we've heard from other journalists. We are in the process of adding more journalists. We hope to have representation of Care Partners, children who have parents with PD, and “who knows who else”! We will also soon be announcing Team Leaders for the Journaling Team.
We want to say:
To our current journalists, “Thank you for the blood, sweat and tears we know you have shed for your journals. Know in your hearts the difference you have made and are making!”
To our readers, “Thank you for spending invaluable time with us. The best thing you can do for the journalists is to regularly leave a comment, if only a couple of words, to let them know you were there (hot key available on each journal). Feedback is like fuel to the fire!”
To each of YOU, “If you are interested in journaling, please contact us at plwp2000@yahoo.com ! If you haven’t visited the journals yet, please do!”
There are several ways to access the Journals. By way of the front page of PLWP , find the option box in the left column "PLWP Support" and click on "The Journals". Another way to access the journals as well as other interactive offerings of PLWP such as the Chat Room, the Yahoo Message Board, the MGH PD Forum as well as the MGH PLWP Forum is what we lovingly call our “Communication Center”. This is a work in progress but we feel its worth adding to your favorites.