In Honor of My Dad

Honoring Dad

There are no words that fully describe my wonderful father, Anthony Giorgilli, who died in May 2009, from complications of Parkinson's Disease. He never once let the disease define him, but instead chose to fully embrace his life as he did prior to his diagnosis. He was someone you never saw without a smile on his face, a willingness to help anyone in need, tremendous love and devotion to all of his many family and friends, and a personality that made every person who knew him adore him. Despite the fact that my father would not complain during his courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease, the disease was fierce competition and slowly robbed him of the ability to wear that trademark smile of his, to walk with the strength that was always his, to talk with the volume of voice that had always been there, and to understand with clarity the world that he had always known. He fought gracefully and graciously, even though the Parkinson's Disease would in the end steal his dignity, pride and independence. In the end, Parkinson's Disease would declare victory and my father could not even declare a truce. In honor of my father, I ask everyone to believe that we cannot let Parkinson's Disease claim any other victims. We need to provide whatever amount we can to assist in funding the research that will find a cure for this disease. We need to win this war. For any further information on Parkinson's Disease, please be certain to visit the Parkinson's Disease Foundation website at www.pdf.org. It will open your eyes to a battle we do not want to lose. Thank you for listening. Thank you for honoring my wonderful father, Anthony Giorgilli.

Please read two poems I have added below.

An Unfinished Poem

I may not have Parkinson’s, but I do understand
That you cannot control one bit the trembling of your hand
The fact that your brain will not always listen to your command
Or that you may become frozen as you attempt to stand
No, nothing, not one part of life, feels quite like what you planned
I may not have Parkinson’s, but try to imagine I’m in your shoes
Wonder if my body wouldn’t listen to my brain, whether I’d have the blues
Thinking about acceptance of my fate and the attitude I might choose
Seeking all those special tips to keep me running smooth and feeling loose
Returning sometimes to the fateful day when I was to learn the news

Important message:

This poem is unfinished on purpose to help those without Parkinson’s Disease to relate to a world that people with Parkinson’s must learn to deal with as they face a constant unknown as to when their symptoms may strike, their medicines wear off, and their bodies not listen to what their mind is trying to instruct them to do. Yes, they deal with a constant disruption and end to something they may have started, as they battle with a disease that does not always allow them control. We, those of us without Parkinson’s Disease, take our control for granted. We fail to imagine what it might be like to consider our control a gift, one that any person with Parkinson’s Disease would dearly love to receive.

Written by Linda Giorgilli Rice 12/17/2010

Another poem I wanted to share with you:

OOPS! I TOOK IT FOR GRANTED

This morning as you lifted that coffee cup
and enjoyed the aroma as you took a sip
I think you may have taken it for granted
that it was easy for your hand to keep its grip
As you prepared to brush your teeth and wash
and headed to the bathroom down that hall
You didn't even think for one moment
To concentrate on your balance so you would not fall
The only problem dressing was perhaps what you might wear
You picked that blouse with the pretty tie and laced it without a care
And then leaned down to pull your pants up so easily
It was a breeze to dress, done so quickly without a fear
I forgot that you first arose from bed and jumped out to greet the day
You stretched your arms so far and high, it was good to start that way
Life was good, soon you'd be off in your car
Nothing could keep you from driving off, you were ready to play
Funny thing about that Parkinson's Disease, how it humbles you without your request
For so many, each of those actions I wrote about above become a difficult task
Oh and I forget the smile upon that face
Suddenly captured and tight like a mask
No, I don't have Parkinson's Disease and I can still do almost anything I choose
I try to remind myself each and every single day how I might feel in those shoes

My words capture only a tiny bit of those simple taken-for-granted abilities one with Parkinson's may lose

Written by Linda Giorgilli Rice 03/21/11