Urosepsis: What to know about UTI complications

Sat 23 December 2017 By Jon Johnson

Urosepsis is a term used to describe a type of sepsis that is caused by an infection in the urinary tract. It is a complication often caused by urinary tract infections that are not treated quickly or properly.

Urosepsis is a serious complication of a urinary tract infection (UTI) that requires immediate medical care to avoid a possible life-threatening event. Anyone experiencing the symptoms of urosepsis should seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms

Because urosepsis is a complication of a UTI, most people with the condition are likely to have symptoms of a UTI already.

The most common UTIs are bladder infections, and symptoms include:

• frequent urges to urinate
• a burning or itching sensation while urinating
• feeling that the bladder is full, even after urinating
• cloudy urine
• blood in the urine
• foul-smelling urine
• pain during sex
• pressure in the lower back or lower abdomen
• malaise, or a feeling of being generally unwell

If the infection spreads beyond the bladder, it can reach the higher parts of the urinary system, such as the kidneys and ureters. When the infection reaches these areas, urosepsis is one possible complication.

In addition to UTI symptoms, people with urosepsis may also display more serious symptoms common to other forms of sepsis. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical care.

Symptoms of urosepsis include:

• pain near the kidneys, on the lower sides of the back
• nausea with or without vomiting
• extreme fatigue
• reduced urine volume or no urine
• trouble breathing or rapid breathing
• confusion or brain fog
• unusual anxiety levels
• changes in heart rate, such as palpitations or a rapid heartbeat
• weak pulse
• high fever or low body temperature
• profuse sweating

In some serious cases, urosepsis may progress to severe sepsis, septic shock, or multi-organ failure.

People with severe sepsis produce little to no urine. They may have difficulty breathing, and their heart may have difficulty functioning.

During septic shock, a person's blood pressure drops to extremely low levels, and their organs may shut down. These symptoms are life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.

Causes

A UTI can occur if bacteria enter through the urethra, which is the tube that urine travels through to exit the body. These bacteria may reach the urethra in a variety of different ways, including through sexual contact, inadequate personal hygiene, or a pre-existing bladder condition. Women are more prone to UTIs than men because their urethras are shorter than a man's.

The bacteria can spread from the urethra into the bladder, where they can multiply, causing an infection. If a UTI is left untreated, it can lead to complications, such as urosepsis.

Sometimes, UTIs develop because bacteria that are already present in the bladder have multiplied to an unhealthy level.

Risk factors

Some people, including women and older adults, are at greater risk of developing urosepsis. Also, people with open wounds or devices, such as catheters or breathing tubes, may also be more at risk of getting infections and UTIs, which can increase the risk for urosepsis.

Other risk factors for urosepsis include:

• diabetes
• being over 65 years old
• a compromised immune system from autoimmune disorders such as HIV or AIDS
• immunosuppression from certain drugs, organ transplant, or chemotherapy
• corticosteroid treatment
• history of urinary conditions
• catheter use

Complications

Not everyone treated for urosepsis will have complications, especially if the condition is treated promptly and effectively.

Possible complications of urosepsis include:

• collections of pus near the kidneys or prostate
• organ failure
• kidney damage
• scar tissue in the urinary tract
• septic shock

Treating urosepsis early and following the doctor's treatment plan are crucial steps to avoid complications.

Diagnosis

A doctor may diagnose urosepsis after confirming that the person has a UTI, which is done through a simple urine sample. If a UTI has been left untreated or the doctor thinks the infection may have spread, they may order immediate blood tests to help diagnose urosepsis.

The doctor may also look for another source of infection that is causing sepsis by using a chest X-ray to look at the lungs, or a blood culture to look for bacteria in the bloodstream. Sometimes, a doctor may examine the skin for rashes or ulcerations.

Doctors may also perform other imaging tests. A computerized tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and kidney can help form a complete picture of the kidney. An ultrasound scan may also help doctors see into the urinary tract to diagnose urosepsis.

Treatment

If caught early, UTIs are easy to treat with antibiotics. A person with a UTI also needs to drink plenty of fluids to help flush the urinary tract.

However, treating urosepsis is not as simple, because it may not respond to antibiotics alone. A doctor will likely start the treatment with antibiotics because it is essential to treat the bacteria that caused the original UTI.

Doctors will monitor a person closely to see how well they respond to the antibiotics. If a person has severe sepsis or septic shock, they may require oxygen.

Some people will need surgery to get rid of the source of an untreated infection completely.

Doctors may prescribe vasopressors, which constrict the blood vessels and increase a person's blood pressure to keep their organs from shutting down due to septic shock.

If urosepsis is not treated quickly, the person may require emergency hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU). If urosepsis progresses and the person develops septic shock, they will need emergency medical treatment.

Prevention

As urosepsis is often the result of an untreated UTI, it is essential to prevent UTIs wherever possible.

There are a variety of steps a person can take to help prevent UTIs, including:

• wiping from front to back after using the toilet
• washing the hands before and after using the toilet
• wearing cotton underwear
• drinking plenty of water daily
• urinating immediately after sexual activity
• not waiting longer than necessary to urinate

Anyone experiencing signs of a UTI should visit their doctor for diagnosis and treatment. A prompt diagnosis and treatment is key to avoiding complications.

Outlook

Urosepsis is a serious, potentially deadly complication of a UTI. Knowing about the signs and symptoms may help people understand the importance of getting prompt treatment for infections.

Anyone who thinks they have a UTI or other problem with their urinary tract should seek medical care.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320401.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MNT%20Daily%20Full%20%28non-HCP%20US%29%20-%20OLD%20STYLE%202017-12-25&utm_term=MNT%20Daily%20News%20%28non-HCP%20US%29

Choir gets the brain moving

24 Dec, 2017 

Christmas is a busy time of year for any choir, no more so than for Tauranga's 'Brainwave Singers'.

This group of singers was founded by Speech and Language Therapist Robin Matthews, who uses music to improve communication in stroke sufferers and to help those battling with neurological conditions like Parkinson's Disease.

"I think the size of the choir contributes to the success in that no one feels isolated or exposed, no one is setup to fail. They are all part of this one, big unit."

The choir began seven years ago and has proved a hit with audiences.

"They're not always entirely certain what a choir of people with a neurological condition would sound like, so they go with a bit of anticipation," said Matthews. "Of course, they very quickly realise that this is a choir like any other, they sing exceptionally well and very loudly."

At the start of each session, Matthews takes the choir through a series of warm-ups.

"Just giving the vocal cords a jolly good work-out, so that when we start the singing process with that high intensity, they are already warmed up and ready to go."

Former High School Teacher Dave Sales found out 11 years ago that he had early-onset Parkinson's.

"I just didn't want to know. I didn't want to go for treatment, I didn't want to go to any groups, join any choir, do any exercise. Leave me alone, thank you very much, that was my initial response."

But Sales said since joining the group, he's gained a newfound sense of camaraderie with his choirmates.

"Some people think they aren't singers, so there is no point coming," Sales said. "In actual fact, they can certainly contribute and become a part of the whole. You can hear how good the sound is that the choir produces, from a mixed bunch of people."

Rob Meharry also has Parkinson's. He says he owes his voice to the Brainwave Singers.

"One of the first things to go was my voice. I used to sing a lot, I was blessed with a reasonably good voice, and it just disappeared on me. I couldn't sing a note," he said.

"Coming here to Brainwave Singers, with the exercise and the singing, I have been able to regain my singing voice - not as it used to be, but at least it's working."

The group meets each week, with the benefits felt by both choir members and choir master.

"I come away usually feeling very elated, a lovely uplift in my life every Wednesday. It really is just the highlight of the week."

Matthews is so convinced of the healing power of music, he's now conducting research into the benefits of singing for stroke and Parkinson's sufferers.

To see video:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11965225

Twin Falls Times-News Neighbors build wheelchair ramp for Idaho man with Parkinson's disease

By Julie Wootton - Greener, Twin Falls Times-News  
Posted Dec 24th, 2017 

TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Matt Matthews got an early Christmas present Tuesday, thanks to donations from his neighbors and a Twin Falls nonprofit.

His neighbors paid for a wheelchair ramp leading up to his house and Interlink Volunteer Caregivers installed it.

Matt is using a wheelchair as he recovers from plantaris tendon repair surgery in his left leg. And normally, he uses a walker to help with his mobility due to Parkinson’s disease.

Now, he’ll be able to more easily get in and out of his Twin Falls home.

It may seem like a remarkable act of kindness — and it is. But it’s just a normal part of life on Princeton Drive, an older, established Twin Falls neighborhood near the city pool. Residents describe as an idyllic place where they take care of one another.

Helping people in need

Edie Schab, executive director of Interlink Volunteer Caregivers, said she has never heard of something like this happening before where neighbors raised money to pay for a ramp. It can cost $5,000 to $7,000 to have a ramp installed if you hire a contractor, Schab said. For the nonprofit, it typically costs about $300, thanks to discounted materials and volunteer labor.

Interlink Volunteer Caregivers provides volunteers to help elderly, disabled and chronically ill community members with home needs, chores and transportation to help them continue to live independently in their homes.

A former board member, who still volunteers for the nonprofit, emailed Schab last week about Matthews and his need for a ramp. The nonprofit is tight on funds for these types of projects, Schab said, so the volunteer said he could round up donations. He and his neighbors donated their own money — a total of $190 — last week to cover the cost of materials for the ramp.

As volunteer Carl Nellis installed the ramp outside Tuesday afternoon, Matthews was sitting in his living room in a reclining chair with his foot elevated. Matthews hadn’t heard it was his neighbors who made the donation. “It’s extremely nice,” he said.

Outside, Nellis was sawing wood and hammering it together to create a ramp. “It’s just amazing how fast he’s going at it,” said Matthews, who was impressed by the workmanship.

Matt Matthews talks about dealing with Parkinson's disease while volunteers build a wheelchair accessible ramp to the front door of his home in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. (Photo: Drew Nash, Twin Falls Times-News)

Matthews' health

Matthews had surgery Nov. 28 in Salt Lake City to have a tendon repaired in his left leg. He has been instructed by doctors not to bend his leg until Jan. 18. With a few stairs leading up to his front door, “it’s been hard,” he said. He was relying on his wife and neighbors to lift him up in the wheelchair in order to get in and out of the house. And since he’s 6 feet 8 inches, that’s not an easy task. It usually takes three people.

Normally, Matthews uses a walker to get around due to his Parkinson’s. “My gait’s kind of off,” he said. He also uses an electric scooter, which he keeps in the garage, to get out onto grass so he can watch his daughters’ soccer games.

Matthews was diagnosed with Parkinson’s more than 10 years ago when he was 35. A couple of years ago, he became unable to work and is now on disability. If he sits for too long, he falls asleep. If he stands for too long, he develops blood clots in his legs.

Matthews and his wife, Sarah — who works at an accountant’s office — have two daughters, ages 5 and 7.

Despite the challenges, he keeps a good attitude. “Someone has to endure it,” he said.

He said his wife thinks he has bad luck. But he said he has good luck because he’s married, has two great children and wonderful neighbors.

'Good spirit of community'

Princeton Drive is an unusual neighborhood — one that’s almost a glimpse back in time. Residents know each other by name and take care of each other.

If someone is outside, others come out to chat. Children play together and ride bicycles up and down the street. Residents ask each other to close their garage door if they accidentally leave it open, or pick up a package off their front porch if they’re not home. If someone in the neighborhood is sick, they bring over food.

“There’s a really good spirit of community,” said Lindsay Clark, one of Matthews’ neighbors who lives across the street.

Her husband, who didn’t want to be named, was the one who contacted Schab asking about a ramp for Matthews.

“We obviously know about Sarah and Matt’s struggles,” Clark said.

The Matthewses help others and don’t complain about their situation, she said. She and her neighbors wanted to do something tangible to relieve some of the family’s burdens.

Clark and her family contacted their neighbors by phone and knocked on doors starting Dec. 12 to ask for donations. Six people said “yes” right away and one said they’d pay for whatever amount was leftover.

During the Christmas season, it’s a way to do treat a neighbor as Jesus would, Clark said.

She hopes the story will be a spark for others to help those who live near them. “I hope it will inspire people to be neighbors.”

https://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=46223798&nid=1419&title=neighbors-build-wheelchair-ramp-for-idaho-man-with-parkinsons-disease

Parkinson’s fuels Plymouth man’s light show Bob Collins

Bob Collins - December 22, 2017

Mike Justak, of Plymouth, Minn., can string 60,000 lights across 8 homes in his neighborhood, taming a blizzard of radio waves to dazzle carloads of people with a showman’s blend of theater and programming skill. It’s easy compared to buttoning his shirt.

Justak, 60, has Parkinson’s disease and he fights it with a passion: lights. Lots of lights.

Since 2010, Justak has been designing and staging his Christmas light show, an idea that came to him in 2009 while experiencing one of the symptoms of Parkinson’s: He couldn’t sleep. Browsing the internet one night, he discovered videos of synchronized light shows.

“I’d never seen anything like it,” he said. “So I started looking into how to do it.” 

He started with a few hundred lights on a tree in his backyard, then moved to the front yard with a plan for 8,000 lights on fresh-cut Christmas trees. 

“My first test was Halloween and I took the kitchen chairs and set them up in the front yard to represent trees and I just threw lights on them. The first thing that I sequenced was ‘Let’s Get Ready to Rumble‘ and my daughter walks out of the house and hears ‘Let’s Get Ready to Rumble‘ and the “trees” light up and she burst out laughing. And that was exactly the reaction I wanted.”

He gets that reaction a lot now since the growing show has brought him a measure of fame and plenty of contributions for his foundation which helps people who are also fighting the degenerative disease.

He was diagnosed when he was 47. “It started with I couldn’t brush my teeth. The brush strokes would get smaller and smaller and my hand would just stop.”

The work of designing the show is tough enough — it takes 6-10 hours to produce one minute of a show — but the physical strain of the production is enormous for anyone.

He lost 10 pounds setting up last year and says his neurologist had to remind him this year he’s a 60-year-old man in his 13th year of Parkinson’s and he’s trying to do things that a healthy 35-year-old would find challenging.

“Whether I like it or not, the show induces stress in my life and that’s the most difficult thing. It aggravates Parkinson’s,” he said.

Oh, there’s stress to staging holiday light shows, thanks to squirrels that chew cords, water that gets into outlets, or computers and gizmos that freeze.

But producing an annual light show was a way to fight his illness. “People who have Parkinson’s are amazing people; they are warriors. There are things you take for granted every day: writing your name, for example.”

Or staging a holiday light show.

“The very first prescription I took for Parkinson’s was Mirapex,” he says. “Mirapex has been linked to compulsive behavior. I can proudly say I have a compulsion. I literally work on the show year around.”

Creating the foundation with money generated from the show allowed him to regain some control in his life. “I had to take disability in 2012 so I haven’t worked in five years, so it gives me an outlet to give back and inspires me in many ways I never dreamed possible,” he says. He’s learned the value of exercise in treating the disease and funds programs to help people move; how to rise from a chair, for example. 

In fact, it’s hard to tell whether his passion is lights or Parkinson’s. “I don’t think there’s a difference,” he says.

“With the light show, I’d stand outside and a window would roll down and someone would say, ‘Are you the man responsible for this? Let me shake your hand. My mother has Parkinson’s’ or ‘My father has Parkinson’s.’ Oh, that’s the best part of this. It’s why you stand outside in zero-degree weather. That’s what keeps me motivated.”

Mike Justak’s neighbors greet visitors to their show with cookies. Photo courtesy of Mike Justak.

Justak was flattered when limos started showing up to see his display. But party buses are another story.

“They’re kind of a new phenomenon,” he says. “They’re loud. They just don’t think. I’ve watched a bus pull up in front of my house and people start getting out. They don’t stay in the street, they start walking onto my display, which features high-voltage wiring. It never ceases to amaze me.”

Justak says this will be the last year of the big show and maybe it will be. But he’s not entirely convincing. 

“People with Parkinson’s tend to fade away,” he says. “You have to keep yourself in a social vein. If you turn that part of you off, you accelerate the depression that’s associated with Parkinson’s.” 

He has some ideas for a smaller production and, besides, a neighbor or two might keep it going.

He reports that contributions to his Parkinson’s foundation have flowed nicely this year. His brothers-in-law flew in this year to help pass out cookies because Justak can’t be out on the street anymore. Cookies generate contributions. His best days, he says, begin Friday night and the four days to Christmas have historically been the most popular.

His show — PD Shimmers — runs every night from 5 p.m to 10 p.m. at 4320 Ithaca Lane N, Plymouth, MN 55446.

https://youtu.be/8xRshbuXhc0

https://blogs.mprnews.org/newscut/2017/12/plymouth-mans-light-show-runs-on-parkinsons/

New hope for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s sufferers

Sunday, December 24, 2017

In the Maltese islands, around 8,000 individuals are suffering from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. These conditions afflict some eight million people in the EU.

Research carried out by Angelique Camilleri as part of a research group at the University of Malta on how brain cells die in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) has yielded encouraging results that could be used to produce new medicines to treat these highly- debilitating conditions.

In AD, people gradually lose their memory and thinking skills, while in PD, an individual is afflicted by uncontrollable tremors and gross difficulty in movement. Unfortunately, medicines that can halt, or at least slow down, the inexorable progression of these diseases are still lacking. This places a huge burden on caregivers and family members, as well as a strain on the country’s finances. In the Maltese islands, around 8,000 individuals are presently suffering from AD or PD. More widely in the EU, these conditions afflict some eight million people.

At a neuropathological level, both AD and PD are characterised by damage to specific brain cells caused by the build-up and deposition of toxic clumps of abnormally folded proteins. In AD, these clumps consist of aggregates of amyloid-beta (plaques) and tau proteins (tangles); while in PD, the alpha-synuclein protein is the main component of the toxic deposits.

In her research, Dr Camilleri focused on using a variety of biochemical and biophysical techniques to uncover disease mechanisms at the single-molecule level which can be targeted by new medicines. Specifically, she sought to determine how the toxic protein clumps that deposit in the brains of individuals with AD or PD can affect the mitochondria of brain cells.

This opens up the possibility of new therapeutic benefits for plant-derived compounds in AD or PD

Mitochondria are the ‘powerhouses’ of brain cells and are crucial for providing them with energy: when mitochondria are compromised, brain cells inevitably die. Thus, experiments were performed in which healthy brain mitochondria were exposed to harmful clumps of tau and alpha-synuclein proteins. It was observed that these toxic entities induced leakage of critical biochemical components from the mitochondrial machinery, causing irreparable harm to the mitochondria.

Dr Camilleri also studied whether drug-like molecules could be found that might protect the mitochondria from being damaged by the toxic protein clumps. Interestingly, when mitochondria were incubated with compounds derived from natural plants – polyphenols like morin, baicalein, and black tea extract – the mitochondria appeared better able to withstand the deleterious effects of the toxic protein aggregates. This opens up the possibility of new therapeutic benefits for plant-derived compounds in AD or PD.

Dr Camilleri carried out the research for her thesis for a Doctor in Philosophy degree she was awarded by the University of Malta. Her research was conducted under the supervision of Neville Vassallo from the University’s Department of Physiology and Biochemistry.

Prof. Vassallo’s research group at the University’s Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking is involved in a large collaborative effort on discovering new disease-modifying treatments for AD and PD, with scientists at the Ludwig-Maxi­-­milians-University of Munich, the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Bonn, the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, and the University of California San Diego, among others.

A recent study was published by this group in the prestigious medical journal EMBO Molecular Medicine and was co-authored by Prof. Vassallo, Dr Camilleri and Dr Mario Caruana. The authors show that a potentially new medicine called ‘anle138b’ improved memory function in a mouse model of AD pathology.

Significantly, Prof. Vassallo’s team showed that the anle138b compound prevented mitochondrial damage and rescued brain cells from dying. Taken together, the data suggest that therapeutic effects can be expected to be achieved in AD patients with anle138b. There is also great promise of the compound in treating PD patients.

Angelique Camilleri was supported by a scholarship grant awarded by the Malta Government Scholarship Scheme. Neville Vassallo was supported by research grants from the Malta Council for Science and Technology through the National Research and Innovation Programme, the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and the University of Malta.

https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20171224/health-fitness/new-hope-for-alzheimers-and-parkinsons-sufferers.666474

At my first Consultation... (12 Days of Christmas from a Person with Parkinson's)

December 23, 2017 By Boxsteady Granny

https://youtu.be/MQn32GZpUY0

A fun but dark take on The 12 Days of Christmas, "At my first Consultation..." is about the many "treatments" offered by neurologists for Parkinson's Disease (PD). I was diagnosed in 2012, and have been putting my efforts into making it all the more palatable for others ever since. Merry Christmas!

-- LYRICS -- At my first consultation …. Dawn May December 2017

At my first consultation, my neuro promised me

A cure for my bloody P.D. ( within the next 10 years …)

At my 2nd consultation, my neuro promised me

Mindfulness sessions … oh ….

And a cure for my bloody P.D ( within the next 10 years …)

At my 3rd consultation, my neuro promised me

10 yoga lessons, mindfulness sessions … oh …

And a cure for my bloody P.D. ( within the next 10 years …)

At my 4th consultation, my neuro promised me

Life Balance classes,10 yoga lessons, mindfulness sessions … oh …

And a cure for my bloody P.D. ( within the next 10 years …)

At my 5th consultation, my neuro promised me

Speech Therapy Yoga, mindfulness, Life Balance - what a treat for me … oh … And a cure for my bloody P.D. ( within the next 10 years …)

At my 6th consultation, my neuro promised me

Drugs, drugs and more drugs
Speech Therapy Yoga, mindfulness, Life Balance - what a treat for me … oh … And a cure for my bloody P.D. ( within the next 10 years …)



At my 7th consultation, my neuro promised me
Anti-depressants, drugs, drugs and more drugs Speech Therapy Yoga, mindfulness, Life Balance - what a treat for me … oh … And a cure for my bloody P.D. ( within the next 10 years …)

At my 8th consultation, my neuro promised me

Thai Chi and biscuits, anti-depressants, drugs, drugs and more drugs Speech Therapy Yoga, mindfulness, Life Balance - what a treat for me … oh … And a cure for my bloody P.D. ( within the next 10 years …)

At my 9th consultation, my neuro promised me

Slow, gentle physio,Thai Chi and biscuits, anti-depressants, drugs, drugs and more drugs Speech Therapy Yoga, mindfulness, Life Balance - what a treat for me … oh … And a cure for my bloody P.D. ( within the next 10 years …)

At my 10th consultation, my neuro promised me

Brisk Nordic Walking, slow, gentle physio,Thai Chi and biscuits, anti-depressants, drugs, drugs and more drugs

Speech Therapy Yoga, mindfulness, Life Balance - what a treat for me … oh …

And a cure for my bloody P.D. ( within the next 10 years …)

At my 11th consultation, my neuro promised me

Another breakthrough treatment, brisk Nordic Walking,

Slow, gentle physio,Thai Chi and biscuits, anti-depressants, drugs, drugs and more drugs

Speech Therapy Yoga, mindfulness, Life Balance - what a treat for me … oh …

And a cure for my bloody P.D. ( within the next 10 years …)

At my 12th consultation, my neuro promised me

Irish set dancing,another breakthrough treatment, brisk Nordic Walking,

Slow, gentle physio,Thai Chi and biscuits, anti-depressants, drugs, drugs and more drugs

Speech Therapy Yoga, mindfulness, Life Balance - what a treat for me … oh …
And a cure for my bloody P.D. ( within the next 10 years …)

At my next consultation, I just can’t wait to see what

My neuro will promise me.

(What’s left …?)

Vitamin extras, co-enzyme Q10, Curcumin tablets, Atre morine, Mucuna powder, Cannabis extract, free acupuncture, massage to music, Boxing with Dennis, ballet at Southmead, long-awaited Warrior ….

Now the truth I see. Neuros, nurses and researchers Still can’t promise me … A cure for my bloody P.D.

But, “it is time” … ( as said by “Rafiki” the baboon in The Lion King)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQn32GZpUY0

Courage Wins

DECEMBER 23, 2017 ~ SHERRI WOODBRIDGE

Fear is real. Those who live with a chronic illness may deal with it on a daily basis. It robs you of the joy of in your journey, the thrill of tomorrow, the delight of your day. It steals your contentment, empties you of enjoying the now, replaces wonder with worry.

What do you do when the worry ogre comes to call? When fear capsizes its ship in your harbor and leaves you to deal with the wreckage? How do you handle fear?

I’ve been enjoying Max Lucado’s book, Fearless. He pinpoints fears relating to finances, children, violence and more, but as I read, I don’t read about fears dealing with chronic illnesses. I doubt that I will and yet, isn’t tackling the fear of unemployment, our children’s safety, chronic illnesses, etc. all dealt with in basically the same way?

Fear is a feeling or emotion about a perceived threat – real or imagined. It’s the condition of being afraid. It is a feeling of dread and hopelessness. It is assuming something terrible is going to come out of a situation. Having Parkinson’s Disease or another chronic disease or illness can make you feel like that: afraid, threatened, hopeless, and more.

We fear losing our ability to talk coherently. To sing or dance. To write, read, paint, draw. We fear the inability to hold our children or grandchildren, to hug our spouse. We fear having to depend on others for helping with everyday tasks we ideally should be able to do until we die. We fear there will be no cure.

Fear can engulf us. Maybe for a moment, an afternoon, a week, a year. It can grab us and refuse to let go. But it doesn’t have to control us.

Courage is the opposite of fear. Courage embraces bravery. It kicks fear in the guts and dares to live. It has the audacity to stand and fight when fear breaths down its neck. Courage grabs the overflowing fountain of fear and flings it into the darkness from where it originated.

Courage faces chronic diseases, terminal diseases and refuses to stand down. It may sit in a wheel chair, lean on a walker, take the arm of one more steady, but it will not crumble. Courage, like fear, is a state of mind that, instead of cowering to what-ifs, lives the here and now. It experiences the ups and downs of the day to day game of life and plays again tomorrow regardless of the rules. Courage allows the players to win. Fear keeps them on the benches.

I have seen and met countless people with chronic illnesses. I have looked into their eyes and have seen courage. I have heard their stories of fear and rejoiced in their victories over it. I have watched them struggle with the reality life has dealt them and laugh at it out loud.

Do they have a secret that allows them immunity over the fear factor of PD? No, but they have chosen to replace fear with the quality of being courageous. Courage is what heroes are made of. Courage breeds hope for a better world. It expects better things to come and looks forward with an optimistic outlook for a better day – a day without walkers or wheelchairs or the worry of what’s to come.

I have seen courage on the faces of those with PD and other chronic illnesses and those who care for them. It may be mixed with weariness and weakness but it is there. It has said “I refuse to give up.” It allows the broken and battered to fight to the end.

To all those who may sit or stand, walk or run, move or remain immobile, I applaud you. Though fear has come and threatened to claim your spirit, you have remained immovable and have been an inspiration to many.

When the fear ogre comes to steal your courage, know that you have a band of others who stand on that front line with you and stand (or sit) ready to fight, ready to win on your behalf.

So don’t give up. You are not alone. At this moment you may feel as if the load you carry is intolerable and you wonder if you can make it another day with pain, stiffness, immobility and more, grasping for your attention – remember to embrace the courage within you and grab hold of the hope that it offers. Stand strong with an optimistic attitude that something better is coming. And don’t forget – you are somebody’s hero.

“Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live.” – Dorothy Thompson

http://parkinsonsjourney.com/courage-wins/