About me

PROFILE:
I have been writing poetry and stories since I was a child, and a love of reading was instilled in me from an early age. I am passionate about writing, and hope you enjoy the books I have written. Whilst most of you sleep soundly in your beds, like many Parkinson’s patients, insomnia dictates, so during those hours that sleep eludes me, the house is tranquil and quiet, an atmosphere perfect to immerse myself in writing. My life has been a series of strange events, which have without doubt contributed to my creativity. To publish anything is to bear one’s soul to the world. It is to stand naked and let everyone see who you really are. I have poured my heart and soul out on paper and I hope to share this journey, immersing you in a story, capturing your attention and firing the imagination. Through my writing and public speaking I hope to bring greater awareness to the general public about living with chronic disease.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Knowing when to put your shoes on

When suffering any disease, we have a fortune of information at our fingertips through the Internet, some of which is from official medical bodies, and other from personal experience of fellow patients. Seeing a Parkinson's specialist recently, I asked him why no doctor had told me in the eight years of living with Parkinson's about going barefoot at home (on tiled floors) can improve walking considerably. I was met with the answer I suspected, that there have not been any validated official medical trials or data to support this claim. However I have found from fellow patients around the world, that many find going barefoot of great help. I was only too happy to find something, anything, to improve my walking, and fortunately having tiled floors throughout the house, I soon began to kick off my shoes.

I was so thrilled and astounded at the remarkable difference, at my last appointment, I gave the neurologist a demonstration in his office. I walked up and down with my orthopaedic sandals on, and then took them off and walked again. He could clearly see the difference and an immediate improved change in gait when walking barefoot.

So taking this thought one step further, I decided to go barefoot in our garden. Outside the paving tiles are flat with a non-slip surface, and walking confidently it felt good, and so I've been spending a lot of time in the garden, whilst getting a good dose of vitamin D. One day I was met with a problem I had not expected. Standing in the garden one morning, admiring my pink roses that cascade down and along the garden wall, a neighbour stuck his head over the garden gate and warned me that he'd just seen a thin silver grey coloured snake enter our property under the gate. He and I immediately looked down at my bare feet, and I quickly came to the conclusion maybe today was not such a good idea to go barefoot.

After speaking to the local authority who has a "snake catcher" they tell me it was a harmless variety and unlikely it will return. I was a little wary for a few days, but have not seen the snake since, so it's back to being barefoot once again!

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