Report on the YOPN Conference in Atlanta, held Aug 7-9
Part I
Maybe I’ll get this summary done of some of the speakers I heard at the Young Onset Parkinson’s Network Conference Aug 7-9, 2008 in Atlanta, GA before the web cast gets online at the National Parkinson’s Foundation‘s website (sponsor of the conference).
This was the 6th YOPN (Young Onset Parkinson’s Network, put on by Young Onset Parkinson’s Assn) Conference and before I tell you about a couple of the speakers, I must commend the patient coordinator, James Trussell of Georgia, and his team for an outstanding program and conference!
This was my second opportunity to attend the YOPN conference. I went in 2006 to the one held in Reston, VA and was amazed at the program and the opportunity to network and the things I learned in a short weekend. If this year’s conference is not yet on the NPF’s website, then you can view some of the 2007 conference held in Chicago, IL.
The first morning of this year’s conference, the featured Parkinson’s patient speaker was Tom Curran, a news anchor for FOX 13 in Tampa Bay. The title of his talk was “Hope for Tomorrow” and he sited some people he knows in other battles with illnesses who have found direction and hope for tomorrow too.
Tom himself noticed symptoms in the fall of 2004, was diagnosed with essential tremor in the summer of 2005, and was finally diagnosed with Parkinson’s in April of 2006 after seeking a second opinion. He mentioned that he had just recently told his employer about his illness. He talked about having a hope for the future through the example of some others who have taken directions or gone in directions which allowed them to not lose hope.
Tom told about Josh Hamilton, a baseball player in Tampa Bay who, upon graduating high school, signed a 4 million dollar baseball contract in 1999. But demons of alcohol and drugs brought Josh to the brink of disaster until he took 8 trips to rehab for his problem and has been clean and sober of drugs and alcohol for 34 months. Josh now plays for the Texas Rangers and has done well in the Home Run derby. Josh freely gives credit to receiving directions from his Lord and found a reason to not give up hope for a recovery.
One of Tom’s aunts works for Joni Erickson Tada, a quadriplegic and inspirational Christian writer and advocate for those with disabilities. She sent Tom a note upon hearing of his diagnosis. He said he was humbled to think that she wrote the letter with a pen in her mouth, and with it gave him the words to encourage him to take directions from the Lord and to not give up hope–even when everyday may seem to be a struggle.
He also mentioned the TV reporter Tony Snow who recently died of cancer. He said Tony did not spend time asking why he had cancer and expressed his thoughts about sicknesses as part of our lives by stating that our maladies may define our existence but with the Spirit of God a direction can be found for living.
The last person Tom talked about was a 28 year old man who had Parkinson’s and had contacted Tom when he heard about Tom’s diagnosis. Tom invited the man to the stage and did a short interview with him. The man’s name is Matthew Greenstein.
Matthew shared how he had let the diagnosis of PD defeat him, drag his family down, and made him feel like he wanted to be alone. But fortunately, Matt’s family dug in and intervened and brought him back to where he found some hope and has had a medical and spiritual transformation.
Tom concluded his presentation by telling how his faith in the Lord gave him hope, and that the greatest thing we can do for ourselves is to have faith that our hope can be shared with those around us and we can face an illness like Parkinson’s with an attitude that will make a difference. He finished with a scripture from Phillipians 4:6-7, which he indicated were the directions and hope that he was going to follow : “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
I think Tom did an awesome job, even though he admitted he was quite nervous speaking to the crowd of Parkinson’s patients and caregivers. His humbleness and openness was inspiring and uplifting. I hope he continues to encourage others for many years.
Judy Hensley
8/29/08
Report on the YOPN Conference in Atlanta, held Aug 7-9
Part I
Maybe I’ll get this summary done of some of the speakers I heard at the Young Onset Parkinson’s Network Conference Aug 7-9, 2008 in Atlanta, GA before the web cast gets online at the National Parkinson’s Foundation‘s website (sponsor of the conference).
This was the 6th YOPN (Young Onset Parkinson’s Network, put on by Young Onset Parkinson’s Assn) Conference and before I tell you about a couple of the speakers, I must commend the patient coordinator, James Trussell of Georgia, and his team for an outstanding program and conference!
This was my second opportunity to attend the YOPN conference. I went in 2006 to the one held in Reston, VA and was amazed at the program and the opportunity to network and the things I learned in a short weekend. If this year’s conference is not yet on the NPF’s website, then you can view some of the 2007 conference held in Chicago, IL.
The first morning of this year’s conference, the featured Parkinson’s patient speaker was Tom Curran, a news anchor for FOX 13 in Tampa Bay. The title of his talk was “Hope for Tomorrow” and he sited some people he knows in other battles with illnesses who have found direction and hope for tomorrow too.
Tom himself noticed symptoms in the fall of 2004, was diagnosed with essential tremor in the summer of 2005, and was finally diagnosed with Parkinson’s in April of 2006 after seeking a second opinion. He mentioned that he had just recently told his employer about his illness. He talked about having a hope for the future through the example of some others who have taken directions or gone in directions which allowed them to not lose hope.
Tom told about Josh Hamilton, a baseball player in Tampa Bay who, upon graduating high school, signed a 4 million dollar baseball contract in 1999. But demons of alcohol and drugs brought Josh to the brink of disaster until he took 8 trips to rehab for his problem and has been clean and sober of drugs and alcohol for 34 months. Josh now plays for the Texas Rangers and has done well in the Home Run derby. Josh freely gives credit to receiving directions from his Lord and found a reason to not give up hope for a recovery.
One of Tom’s aunts works for Joni Erickson Tada, a quadriplegic and inspirational Christian writer and advocate for those with disabilities. She sent Tom a note upon hearing of his diagnosis. He said he was humbled to think that she wrote the letter with a pen in her mouth, and with it gave him the words to encourage him to take directions from the Lord and to not give up hope–even when everyday may seem to be a struggle.
He also mentioned the TV reporter Tony Snow who recently died of cancer. He said Tony did not spend time asking why he had cancer and expressed his thoughts about sicknesses as part of our lives by stating that our maladies may define our existence but with the Spirit of God a direction can be found for living.
The last person Tom talked about was a 28 year old man who had Parkinson’s and had contacted Tom when he heard about Tom’s diagnosis. Tom invited the man to the stage and did a short interview with him. The man’s name is Matthew Greenstein.
Matthew shared how he had let the diagnosis of PD defeat him, drag his family down, and made him feel like he wanted to be alone. But fortunately, Matt’s family dug in and intervened and brought him back to where he found some hope and has had a medical and spiritual transformation.
Tom concluded his presentation by telling how his faith in the Lord gave him hope, and that the greatest thing we can do for ourselves is to have faith that our hope can be shared with those around us and we can face an illness like Parkinson’s with an attitude that will make a difference. He finished with a scripture from Phillipians 4:6-7, which he indicated were the directions and hope that he was going to follow : “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
I think Tom did an awesome job, even though he admitted he was quite nervous speaking to the crowd of Parkinson’s patients and caregivers. His humbleness and openness was inspiring and uplifting. I hope he continues to encourage others for many years.
Judy Hensley
8/29/08