In Today's Issue
Mark Wilson
Parkinsons
Can I speak my Mind
MARK WILSON
I have recently published an anthology of pieces of work written for, and about people who have suffered from mental health issues. More of that later.
One of the contributers was Mark Wilson.
This is a poem by Mark Wilson. Mark is a dad of two and was a private hire
driver. At the young age of forty Mark
was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
This
brutally honest piece is about how this affected him and how it showed him,
perhaps, the true meaning of love.
Parkinson’s
The time had come and I'd had enough
I felt so down things had become very tough
I felt on my own nobody cared
I felt so useless and very scared
Nobody loved me or had a thought for me
This was the only way out I could see
I climbed upstairs and sat on my bed
Dark thoughts were running round my head
I poured the drink and put tablets in my hand
When they found me I'm sure they'd understand
Just why I had to do it why I had to get out
They'd be better off without me I had no doubt
I sat back and was ready to end it all
My phone then rang so I answered the call
It was my daughter to ask if I was ok
I couldn't tell her what I was doing that day
It was then I had a change of mind
How could I leave them my loved ones behind?
I was being selfish to all my family and friends
It's them that would be suffering in the end
People did love me now I was sure
Even if I didn't realise all this before
Parkinson
1. Every hour someone in the UK is told they have Parkinson's.
2. There isn’t just one type of Parkinson’s.
There may be five or more types of Parkinson’s according to researchers at Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre, which are categorised on factors such as type of symptom and progression of the condition.
3. Everyone is different - no two people with Parkinson’s will have exactly the same symptoms.
4. People sometimes find sufferers can look disinterested or distant. Parkinson’s can affect people’s facial muscles, giving some people a ‘mask’ or a sombre expression, rather than reflecting their emotions.
5. Although Parkinson’s can affect a person’s movement, it’s often the unseen symptoms such as pain and fatigue which can have the greater impact on people’s quality of life .
Experts say the large number of symptoms can make the disease difficult to diagnose.
6. There’s no cure. Sadly despite scientific advances, there still is no cure for Parkinson’s – something scientific research, and charity Parkinson’s UK is working to change.
7. A new treatment might be just around the corner.
Recent research has shown that drugs used to treat cancer and liver conditions may hold promise to treating Parkinson’s.
8. The answer to the condition could be in our genes.
Although still in the early stages, Parkinson’s UK is funding research to develop gene therapy – an innovative approach which uses genes to slow or halt the development of Parkinson’s.
9. It also affects younger people: Although it is more common in older people, people under the age of 40 years can develop symptoms.
10. There is help available to sufferers of the disease. Parkinson's UK is the UK's leading charity supporting those with the condition.
Its mission is to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson's through cutting edge research, information, support and campaigning.
10. There is help available to sufferers of the disease. Parkinson's UK is the UK's leading charity supporting those with the condition.
Its mission is to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson's through cutting edge research, information, support and campaigning.
Mark has recently released a book of his poetry you can find more about it here :-
Can I Speak My Mind ?
New Release -
Can I Speak My Mind is a collection of short stories and poetry written by, for and about people who have been affected by mental health issues.
Some of the pieces are heartbreaking, some are hopeful, some are even funny…but what they all are is honest.
All profits from the sale of this book will go to mental health charities.
By buying this anthology you have contributed to people who go that extra mile to help sufferers in the community. These groups volunteer selflessly. Your money will help them to continue providing much needed support.
So well done you, you are a hero.
Here is a link to the Amazon page -
Can I Speak My Mind
Neville Raper is a Broadcaster, Poet, Author, Playwriter and a blogger. He is an occasional stand up, regular sit down.
His award winning books can be found on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes Noble and Kindle.