“Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.” – Hippocrates.
11th of April is celebrated world-wide as International Parkinsons Day. Parkinsons is a disease which affects the nervous system, resulting in many forms of degeneration of the body, extremely slow movements and other symptoms such as shivering of hands. The Parkinsons disease and movement disorder society had, on Monday, the 11th of April, organized an event for all Parkinsons patients. Many doctors, and other eminent people who have excelled in their respective fields, were invited-of them one was Dr. Nicole D’souza, an ex-student of Bombay Scottish School. We, the students of Bombay Scottish School had volunteered our services for this event.
The program began with a lunch for all the patients present there. We helped distribute the lunch boxes, helped the patients eat them, and then took the patients up to the auditorium. Some of us were backstage helping with the props, backdrops, and communication of messages. We had lot of fun backstage: helping get all the props arranged, seeing to it that everything is in order for the next act, and generally just getting things ready and perfect. We helped the patients wear their headgear, scarves, coats, giving them props and getting them set for their performances. We helped ensure that the event was smooth and continuous. The feedback we got was extremely positive as all the patients were very happy at the end of the programme and had enjoyed it tremendously.
There were many performances such as dances, acts, plays and speeches done by the patients themselves to the best of their ability. These were very inspirational and motivational. We learnt that it doesn’t matter if you are differently abled, you will always find another way. Life might not be the same, but it may just be better!
All of the patients’ acts encouraged everyone to fight against parkinsons, be strong and tell themselves,“I can.” There is nothing that a person cannot do. If there is a will, there is a way! Only the effort may be lacking. There was another important lesson to be learnt, to always be POSITIVE AND HAPPY, to believe in ourself.
Hellen Keller’s words sum up our experience beautifully, “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it.”
-Purujit 10th