As far as we know, godmother fairies granting wishes is the stuff of fantastical children’s stories. But that doesn’t mean we can’t dream big.
Hope is not unrealistic positive thinking or airy-fairy optimism. Hope is a stubborn determination to do all you can to bring your wish to life. It means boldly envisioning the future while knowing there will be challenges along the way. It calls on our belief, our courage, and our community: we cultivate hope together.
In this spirit, we gathered our PMD Alliance ambassadors and asked them to dazzle us with their 2022 hopes for the Parkinson’s community, knowing that we sow the seeds of these hopes by working hand-in-hand.
John Baumann hopes…
“My new year’s hope for the Parkinson’s community is that each of you cherish every moment, whether you are ON or OFF, and think to yourself, ‘This too shall pass, it always does.’ May you use your talent of patience to get through this OFF period. And when you are ON, think, ‘I am ON. May I feel how good it is to be alive for as long as it lasts.’”
Judy Reynolds hopes…
“My hope for 2022 for the Parkinson’s community is that there will be a way to diagnose a person with Parkinson’s early on in the disease. And, of course, then a treatment that will delay or stop the progression of the disease.
“My other hope for the new year is that we will be able to start getting together in person safely again. I am so grateful for Zoom and for what PMD Alliance has done with it, but I miss being with my friends and feeling safe. I miss hugging them.”
Kelley Roberson hopes…
“My hope is that the Parkinson’s community looks more in depth at the lives and the needs of those with advanced Parkinson’s. Their struggles are much different than someone in earlier stages. I also hope more attention will be given to the spousal caregivers who care for their loved one during the advanced stages.”
Carol Helming hopes…
“My hope for the new year is that we are able to get COVID-19 under control.”
Payton Davies hopes…
“As a support group leader, I hope we start having more in-person get togethers. I hope we start living our lives fully, gathering again. We’re not afraid of Parkinson’s; we can’t be afraid to live fully, again, either. We can’t live with fear.”
Dave Orlowski hopes…
“My New Year’s hope for the Parkinson’s community is that, while there probably will not be a cure in 2022, that there is some medical breakthrough or discovery that helps improve the lives of those currently living with PD and thus maintains the belief of an eventual cure.”
Until there’s a cure, we’ll find strength, friendship, understanding, and hope in each other.
