“The disease is yours. Sit with it for a bit. Take your time to share it with others as you see fit.” – Me

After talking to my kids, I eventually had to deal with the rest of the world. Ugh… I struggled with how to do this? I knew one thing for sure;

I did not want anyone to feel sorry for me.

So I made a plan and this is what I came up with;

1. I could/would not cry when I told people.
2. I would put the most positive spin on it.
3. I would downplay the effects that the disease was having upon me.
4. I would tell them that this was ‘all good.’

Basically, I would make light of PD, as well as my feelings about it, in order to get me through ‘the telling.’

After a couple of weeks passed, I began.

My sisters, my parents, and some close friends were told face to face or by phonecall depending upon geography and distance. Receiving their caring reactions was incredibly difficult, but I stuck to my plan. Other friends got text messages – this was quick and painless as they had time to react privately and I had time to react privately to their kind words. Slowly I released the news to my employer and my colleagues – this was easier as they saw me daily and were aware of my symptoms.

And the rest of my world, who hadn’t yet heard by word of mouth, found out in my ‘coming out’ post on Facebook 4 months after diagnosis. This occurred on the same day as the Parkinson’s Superwalk (Canadian annual fundraiser for PD). I had intended to participate but had to head out of town for our cousin’s funeral. Our cousin Brigid was taken far too soon after a valiant struggle with cancer. Her positive attitude toward life was clearly evident in the words spoken about her by her family and close friends. She lived her best life and helped so many others do the same.

The message conveyed at the funeral was that of gratitude.

While away, my dear friends at home participated in the Parkinson’s SuperWalk for me! I felt so much gratitude and I wanted to recognize them for the kind-hearted gesture that they had done on my behalf.

Seemed like the perfect opportunity to go public.