I heard this story the other day, “On Point.” Tom Ashbrook spoke with Dr. Tom Graboys, a doctor struggling with Parkinsons and Dementia who has just co-authored a memoir called, “Life in the Balance.” Listen to this story here, at http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2008/06/20080616_b_main.asp
What struck me about this story was the language Dr. Graboys used to describe his illness. He used the words, “Keeping my head above the water” which is what I talked about in my intro column for Chronic Mamas. Dr. Graboys said for years he was “desperatley trying to keep my head above water and desperately trying to keep everything on track.”
I think it’s both sad and interesting that this drowning metaphor resonates across the spectrum of illness….from Diabetes to Parkinsons and Dementia.
