I learned last night that another friend has moved away to be closer to family and that their Person with Parkinson’s is not living with them but in a care facility. I remember when my father’s disease had progressed beyond our capabilities and my mother had to make that difficult decision. I look at my husband and pray that we never reach that point.

It is difficult to be part of a group where, as my husband puts it, “People keep dropping off the cliff.” It sounds somewhat cold but that is the reality. Our friends who share this disease with us are progressing at different rates and in different ways. Their partners are being forced into making decisions none of us ever wanted. It can be a depressing situation especially knowing that we could also be there one day.

Then, I think about our friends who are doing well. We see people daily in our exercise group who are still “managing to cope,” my husband’s words again. I would say that they are actually doing better than coping, many are thriving in spite of the challenges of PD. They are here, fighting the fight and encouraging each other to keep on. Even those we have lost showed great courage while living their lives with Parkinson’s. There is much good going on within our PD network.

We will be faced with many hardships on our journey with Parkinson’s and may very well lose more friends along the way. I can’t let the difficulties and losses define us; I need to continue to live with a positive outlook. Our journey is unique, and we cannot know where it will end. I need to accept and enjoy what we have with the knowledge that wherever this road leads, we will always be travelling it together.