Team Patientslikeme at $5120.00 for PUW

You know what, I am running out of words to describe this group of people I have become so happy to run around with. Never in my life have I felt so at ease with so many people from so many walks of life. The sick the well, the wealthy the poor, the educated and the not can all be blended very well in most any situation when it comes to Parkinson's and our time to shine is fast upon us. April Fools Day starts our month, National Parkinson's Month. Some say our color is red. Some say it is silver. I tend to sway toward the red tulip....only because Karen Painter was the first to hand deliver one of her hand made pens to me in Atlanta at the YOPN Conference in 2008. That was my first attended Parkinson's conference and I had just started blogging. I still have that pin and where it to every major function I attend for Parkinson's and with total PRIDE. I look at my Team at the Unity Walk and watch it grow daily. I post the totals every day on Patientslikeme.com as I will today ....Team Patientslikeme $5120.00 $541,060.00 over all. Proud just seems so shallow a term for a group that started with not one sent January 1 and has over$5000.00 three months later and sure to get more in the next month. We're proud of our home site and want the world to know. The phone calls are going constantly and emails are flying. What we may have casually mentioned before we are begging for now.....The thing that spurs me on is that every penny of this goes to research....EVERY PENNY.... never forget that is so important. I am starting to pack my bag. Yes I start early because the assortment is huge and the airport is harsh...I have even been known to mail gifts to the hotel I am staying at....I know I will have to send a package home...I did last year. I hope somehow I can touch each person and tell them the love they have brought to my life will never be forgotten and be forever cherished. This is not only the members of my team, but people I have met on the street at the Today Show, Very special organizers of other walks, bloggers from all over the world, and those who have written articles about me and to me. We have some how all become one big family and it feels very good and comforting....thank you Pokie

Can You Feel The Burn?

Poor" Coffee" has been left behind while I rambled and traveled on "Today With Pokie" almost daily. So much is going on and it's very hard for me to even keep my "to do " notes straight. This past weekend some of my family traveled to St.Louis for the Undy 5000 for Colon Cancer. My friend, Stacie Mishler, is the event director for the Colon Cancer Alliance and had invited me in to participate and met some of her friends......one in particular Gary Palumbo, , Palumbo Exhibit Designs, Inc. We went out to eat on Friday night and I give him all stars. What a sweet easy going guy and we talked and talked and talked. Imagine that with me around? There are some people I come in contact with, in this phase of my life, who I seem to have this unmistakable draw to. I have not seen Stacie since last years Unity Walk though we have been in constant contact. We picked up where we left off without a hitch. Gary never set in silence, he jumped right in and I can see what a wonderful work pair they must be for the Cancer Alliance. Thank you guys, Gary for the opportunity to meet you and, yes, I will call you in NYC, Stacie for being able to hug you and sit in the warmth of that fabulous smile and last but not least my daughter and her son my grandson Brendan. Heidi is forever taking care of mom I wish it were the other way around but it seems it has never been......but she had a great time! Brendan you pulled it off....Nine years old and at a five star restaurant with no hamburgers and he's starving. Sitting with three adults, talking about things way over his head for over TWO HOURS and he nailed it....He joined right in the conversation, tried all the food and ate his order and was the perfect gentleman....Can you tell grandma is proud? The next morning we were up early and it was cold and a mighty wind was blowing making it worse but we gathered up my old wheelchair and headed to Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri and did the walk and really had a good time. We " Felt the Burn" love and thanks Pokie

The Quilt Squares Keep Coming.....

Some time ago I opened the mail box to a lovely surprise from a newly divorce lady who lived in South Dakota, U.S.A. and had met me through Patientslikeme.com in the past months. As she told me, she was newly diagnosed and jsut wanted to send me something in honor of our newly established friendship. I was working on quilt squares for our Parkinson quilt at the time and as she told me she did not qilt but did chrochet and knit and was sending me these two dish rags(???) she had made so I could think of her when I did my dishes.  I wrote her back immediately and told her there was no way I could ever use something so beautiful on my dishes and lovingly put them on my PLM shelf nex to my computer.  Then yesterday I was sitting at my desk and decided I would make a panel in her honor to go to Scotland in the Fall for the Global Conference......all hers in honor of her friendship and what that gesture meant to me.  Though I hate to loose them, I would love for the World to see just what meaningful and deep relationships are formed at Patientslikeme.com. Not a day goes by without interaction and love in some form. It may come in a card or phone call, a gift or a quilt square, but it's there to help us get by. Thank you always..sdrodeaomom...love Pokie

 

This is Elaine's square from Palo Alto, California. Though my photo leaves a lot to be desired. The square had all the heart that could possibly be sewn into a panel.. This is the story she attached:

"The quilt panel I created is meaningful to me because it is knit from wool given to me from some of the best people in my world. I chose the over all fall color scheme based on some incredible wool Laura(my youngest daughter0 brought me as a present.  There is a purple alpaca wool that Jessie(my oldest daughter) sent me from Peru while there on a bike ride. Joan(friend) contributed the striking orange eyelash and fall ribbon from her collection. Susan(friend) gave me the gold and green mohair. I saved wool that was used to knit Carol(my sister) a shawl and it is incorporated throughout the project.Those who know me well understand my cutting skills are not the best.  David( my husband) made sure my panel was the correct size.....This panel was made in honor of  MY SUPPORT TEAM"

I have no idea how, when the time comes, we will turn these squares loose to the world.  Each has a heart and soul and soon feels like a child we have given birth to. Hopefully when the World sees our work and touches these panels they will feel our love and help our plight....love Pokie