So much to say
My family started a tradition a year or so ago. We are all spread across the states of Kentucky, Indiana, and Florida that it is hard to get everyone together. So we decided to do a few big family get together meals a year, aside from the major holidays. Tonight we went to the always awesome Mark's Feed Store. But an incident happened that has been running in my head all night.
My uncle Kenny suffers from Parkinson's disease. For those that don't know it is a disease that attacks the nervous system and wreaks havoc on the person's ability to move. Two famous people who are sufferers of this disease are the boxer Muhammad Ali and the actor Micheal J. Fox. Though the disease is treatable to an extend, there is no cure at this time.
So two incidents happened as we at. We were all eating and sharing stories. I was ragging on Zack, my younger cousin who I always make a point to give crap to because he is younger version of me. My sister was telling a funny story about my niece. Then there was a thud.
We turned to see Kenny on the floor. His muscles had just given out from nowhere. Immediately my cousin's husband and my aunt sprang into action as restaurant staff came to help. She had done this before. After assessing he was okay, he grabbed a chair and righted himself in the quite restaurant. I was impressed in the quickness he was able to get himself back up; the old man still has it.
After this Kenny was obviously embarrassed, but we and the staff put him at ease. Once we assured he was okay, everyone acted as if nothing happened. I want to think he appreciated it. After that we all finished our meal in good cheer and family time.
The next big, no the biggest, hit was when we were leaving. Kenny walks with a chain now. Zack was on one side of him, my aunt Donna was on the other, supporting him. His feet shuffled in short steps as his body just could not do it. The doors were held open for him, but Ken just could not take another step. His feet were frozen. I saw Donna straining to hold her end up. Not even really thinking about it, I touched her shoulder and brushed her aside to grab his arm. Zack and I held him up and maneuvered him to a couch to sit down. Thankfully a dose of his medication allowed him to take himself to his and my aunt's car.
The moment of holding him up sticks with me still. This is a man who served his country in the US Navy. He worked his ass or Ford for decades to support his family. He took me, my mother, and my sister into his home when a flood took ours from us. I've never known anything but love and kindness from the man. In many ways I consider him a second father. A man who held me up when I was too weak to walk, I was now doing the same for him. And I was proud to do it.
And knowing my uncle Kenny, he is a good ol' country boy who isn't much for PDAs. I walked away once i knew he was okay, not out of indifference; but so he didn't see the tears welling in my eyes,.So, though I don't think I could say them to his face, I know how much he means to all of us. And God willing one day we will find a cure for this disease and he will has plenty of good years ahead.
My uncle Kenny suffers from Parkinson's disease. For those that don't know it is a disease that attacks the nervous system and wreaks havoc on the person's ability to move. Two famous people who are sufferers of this disease are the boxer Muhammad Ali and the actor Micheal J. Fox. Though the disease is treatable to an extend, there is no cure at this time.
So two incidents happened as we at. We were all eating and sharing stories. I was ragging on Zack, my younger cousin who I always make a point to give crap to because he is younger version of me. My sister was telling a funny story about my niece. Then there was a thud.
We turned to see Kenny on the floor. His muscles had just given out from nowhere. Immediately my cousin's husband and my aunt sprang into action as restaurant staff came to help. She had done this before. After assessing he was okay, he grabbed a chair and righted himself in the quite restaurant. I was impressed in the quickness he was able to get himself back up; the old man still has it.
After this Kenny was obviously embarrassed, but we and the staff put him at ease. Once we assured he was okay, everyone acted as if nothing happened. I want to think he appreciated it. After that we all finished our meal in good cheer and family time.
The next big, no the biggest, hit was when we were leaving. Kenny walks with a chain now. Zack was on one side of him, my aunt Donna was on the other, supporting him. His feet shuffled in short steps as his body just could not do it. The doors were held open for him, but Ken just could not take another step. His feet were frozen. I saw Donna straining to hold her end up. Not even really thinking about it, I touched her shoulder and brushed her aside to grab his arm. Zack and I held him up and maneuvered him to a couch to sit down. Thankfully a dose of his medication allowed him to take himself to his and my aunt's car.
The moment of holding him up sticks with me still. This is a man who served his country in the US Navy. He worked his ass or Ford for decades to support his family. He took me, my mother, and my sister into his home when a flood took ours from us. I've never known anything but love and kindness from the man. In many ways I consider him a second father. A man who held me up when I was too weak to walk, I was now doing the same for him. And I was proud to do it.
And knowing my uncle Kenny, he is a good ol' country boy who isn't much for PDAs. I walked away once i knew he was okay, not out of indifference; but so he didn't see the tears welling in my eyes,.So, though I don't think I could say them to his face, I know how much he means to all of us. And God willing one day we will find a cure for this disease and he will has plenty of good years ahead.