PatientsLikeMe ™

       I had worked for many years as an industrial appraiser.    As a result, I have traveled extensively around the United States, along with Canada and Mexico, visiting factories of all types.    I would write up detailed specs on all of the production and machine shop equipment, forklifts, computers, office furniture, etc. of the many auto and aviation sub-contractors that I visited.    I also did pharmaceutical manufacturers, chemical processing plants, and clothing manufacturers.    I even appraised a lox manufacturer in The Bronx, New York, a shrimp processor in a Louisiana bayou, and Stetson (Western) Hat manufacturer in Texas.    I would then return home to research the values of said equipment.    

    I grew up in NYC until I was 40 years old.   After meeting my wonderful wife, Faye, who is currently my caregiver, we moved to South Florida for about 8 years where we had our son Sam (now 14), then to Dallas for approx. 5 years, and back to FL for the past 2 years. 

    I am now 56 years old.    I dont speak.   My balance is way off to the point where I can barely walk.    I am at the beginning of swallowing problems.    I rue the day that my movement disorder specialist gave me the bad news that it was PSP as opposed to PD that I was experiencing.    PD is something I could have lived with literally, whereas, PSP seems to be my undoing.     That is not to make light of PD.    Yet it is known as the snowflake disease, where each and every person has varying symptoms, and varying degrees of affliction; many of those with PD able to live relatively full, long lives.     At the same time, there are those, possibly misdiagnosed, with PD who do suffer terribly.    I don't know the point of these ramblings other than my need to vent some of my anger and frustration with the fact that I must use a typewriter device by Dynavox to be able to communicate,  and have a young son who is unforgiving, and just doesn't understand!!!!