I know that Antarctic is our neighbour in Winter when I step outside and the South Wind cuts through me like a knife. Now when I step outside there is a warm North Wind and it's a perfect Spring day. From the months of May till October we are blessed with regular visitors - Southern Right Whales. This year we witnessed 5 adults with their calves at Logan's Beach "Whale Nursery" only a few minutes drive from my home. The whales return again and again to this special
place. I am a teacher and last week we took 60 children aged from 5 - 8 years to an extinct volcano called "Tower Hill". We were surrounded by signs of Spring - A mother Koala with her baby on her back, Emus, Kangaroos and even a tiger snake coming out of hibernation on that warm Spring day!! Tower Hill is also a significant site for the indigenous people who dwelled there thousands of years ago. They too would have wittnessed the changing of the Seasons - the filling and emptying of the tidal lake, the abundance and scarcety of vegetation and native animals, the heating and cooling of the earth. The cycle of the Seasons reminds me of the rejuvination of the natural world. With the return
of Spring, the snakes coming out of hibernation, longer days, and the coming and going of the whales - I have faith that goodness shall return and that I am a part of this mystery.
PROFILE;
My name is Jacinta. I turned 40 in January this year. I am a teacher. I work full time at a school with 180 students. I teach a class of 5 & 6 year olds. I have been teaching for almost 20 years. Three years ago I was diagnosed with PD. About 9 years ago I enrolled in a Tai-Chi class. Sometimes during the classed the instructor
would tell me to relax my left shoulder. I had no idea what she was talking about because my shoulder felt "normal". Then in 1995 a friend and I went to a "health retreat" where we participated in meditation and relaxation sessions. After the session I mentioned
to my friend that I had trouble relaxing my left toe. I have done Yoga for 16 years and occasionally during a yoga class I was aware of my left leg feeling tense. Eventually I became worried when I was walking I noticed my left foot would cramp and my left arm didn't swing.
My close friend Gerardine is a doctor, and I asked her a few questions about my body. She couldn't find anything wrong but suggested that I go to a neurologist. So I made my appointment - and got in to see a neurologist within in a month. I drove 2 hours on my own thinking that I'd have lots of tests done and would be told to come back in a month to get the results. But the neurologist took one look at me and told me I had PD. He quoted statististics at me and showed me graphs and the rest is a blur. On July 16th, 1998; I was diagnosed with PD. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I
remember wearing my red Doc Martin's shoes which were polished nicely and the neuro commented on my shine shoes. I remember the neuro saying "If I were you, I do everything you want to do sooner rather than later." So, after the shock wore off I went to a travel agent and planned a trip to Greece and Italy. I asked
Gerardine to be my travelling companion and in September 1999 we spent 6 weeks traveling around Italy. We had the time of our lives.
Three years down the track - I found a new neurologist - someone whom I like. Just this year I've noticed my symptoms have been progressing - the tremor in my left hand is moving to my right hand and, I'm taking mild medication - Symmetryl, Artane, and Cabergoline. I have noticed some improvement in my handwriting, and I can walk for ages without my foot cramping. PD has cured me of depression. Before I was diagnosed I suffered from depression for no apparent reason. When I was diagnosed, I realized that the depression was probably related to PD and my way of
coping with the changes in my body.
I recently read an article in a Major newspaper about a man aged 40 who is living with PD. One thing he talks about is how his children cope with his symptoms. He said his youngest child called his condition "Parmesan Cheese!!" He also said that he sometimes catches his children mimicking his symptoms. This touched me because the students in my class mimic my symptoms. I know when I'm having a bad day. Recently, I saw a
few of them mimicking my symptoms and laughing - and I felt hurt and a little bit cross. I have been trying to work out a way of telling them not to do those things and laugh without telling them I have an illness. I said that I feel hurt when they laugh and mimic me because sometimes I can't help it when I get the shakes. Since
then they have been more sensitive. But I know this is just the beginning.
With any chronic illness it's important to find something to immerse yourself in. At the moment my passions are photography and singing. I've joined a singing group of about 20 women called "The Redtent Singers." We have lots of fun and we have had a few gigs. I enjoy the chance to express my creativity through singing and being in a group. I am also proud of myself overcoming the embarrassment I feel about my body I've noticed an improvement in my voice which is a bonus. Finally - I have recently joined a "Women's
Circle." About 12 of us meet every fortnight to share, meditate and reflect. Last time we met, we were asked to tell about some event or thing that is magic . I began my "story" with ". . . 3 years ago I was diagnosed with PD. Since then every moment is magic for me. Doing the dishes is magic, singing, sleeping, walking. "
I looked around the group and noticed that some of the women had tears in their eyes. I shared a couple of other magic moments and threw in a few funny stories. At the end of the evening everyone came up and thanked me for sharing. Then during the week I received a lovely card from one of the women saying your life contains an incredible story, and your are an inspiration to all who have the privilege of sharing your story. Your courage in sharing so much of yourself with us made the night truly magical. You are a perfect example of amazing grace. Your strength brought a powerful presence to the circle, which touched all of us deeply. It was magic. You are a heroine." I share these words with you because the heroes and heroines are you –the people out there who live with PD - who get up in the mornings and do the ordinary things. And at the end of the day when you feel so tired that you can't put three words together to form a sentence - you
wonder how you are going to get through the night and the next day, weeks and months. You do get up the next day. And you find that each day is a mystery. Life is about change and PD is about change. Change is not "good" or "bad" it's just change.
"God help us to change. To change ourselves and to change our world. To know the need for it. To deal with the pain of it. To feel the joy of it.To undertake the journey without understanding the destination. The art of gentle revolution. Amen" Michael Leunig.
