Family Members with Parkinson’s Disease
As I mentioned in my blog spot a few days ago, every week there will be at least one blog on some subject related to Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, (NPH), or Dementia. The rest of the blogs on joyfulandhappyliving.com will be articles on how all of us can increase the joy in our lives.
Today’s blog is on two members of my family who had Parkinson’s Disease and whom I loved with all my heart. The first person is my beloved maternal grandmother, Hyla Hinton Hammock Roby, or “Mimi” as I called her.
Mimi was a perfect grandmother. She was fun to be with and she baked the best cakes in the whole world! She had been born in Greenville, Texas, and was very beautiful so she was a true Southern Belle! I was in elementary school when she was diagnosed as having Parkinson’s Disease. In fact Parkinson’s Disease was the first disease I ever learned about! In the 1950s when Mimi was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, the diagnosis was simple. If the patient could not walk backwards on command, he or she was considered to have Parkinson’s disease. For years every time I was afraid might have PD, I would go in the guest bedroom’s large walk-in closet and walk backwards to prove to myself I did not have PD!
The other family member to have Parkinson’s Disease was Mimi’s grandson, Richard Ellis Roby, who I called “Dick.” Once upon a time, Dick had been a Methodist minister but he later in life became an advertising executive.
Dick, like Mimi, was fun to be with. Dick and I were very close as children and teenagers. He was more of a brother than a cousin to me!
Mimi and Dick were two of the most important people in my life. I loved both of them with my whole heart. Parkinson’s Disease robbed me of these two special darlings. I dedicate this blog spot to them! Love never dies and their memories will always have special places in my heart.
Mimi and Dick, I love you!
