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Submitted by PatientsEngage on 30 May 2019

Saeed Ibrahim reviews Marianne de Nazareth's book "A Bend in the River of Life", a fictionalised account based on her experience of seeing her parents struggle with Parkinson's. The book is useful to caregivers and patients to understand how Parkinson's disease progresses.

Marianne de Nazareth's book "A Bend in the River of Life" is the heart-rending story of one family's struggles with the double tragedy of both parents being successively struck with the crippling and degenerative Parkinson's disease. Through an engaging narrative the author takes us though joyful childhood memories and shared sibling moments of family time spent in the loving atmosphere of their grandparents' homes and the unstinting love and support of strong, achievement oriented and nurturing parents. Until both these strong and focused individuals are affected, one by one, by Parkinson's Disease, reducing them to a mere shadow of their former selves.

Early in the book the author introduces us to the debilitating effects of this long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system with no known cure, and the spectre of the disease hangs over us throughout the narrative. Adding to our knowledge and understanding of Parkinson’s, the author details the symptoms associated with the disorder, chief of which are motor dysfunction, tremors and rigidity. Unfortunately there is no definitive  test  for  diagnosing  Parkinson’s  Disease  and diagnosis is rendered all the more difficult because in some cases it is difficult to separate the symptoms of normal ageing from those of the disease.

In the advanced stages of the disease, as in the case of both parents, patients develop cognitive and psychiatric side effects such as dementia, disturbed sleep and in extreme cases instances of hallucinations. Yet even in the most agonising and heart-breaking situations, there is never a moment of self pity or helpless resignation. Instead the trials and tribulations that the sisters face are dealt  with  great equanimity and courage and an unconquered spirit that constantly suggests that life must go on  no matter what. 

An informative book on Parkinson's disease and the ravages that it can bring to bear on the lives of patients and their families, this book serves as a source of inspiration and hope to the multitude of persons with Parkinson's and their caregivers.  

Saeed Ibrahim is a Bangalore based author and writer of newspaper articles, short stories and book reviews. His love of history, tradition and heirlooms is reflected in his latest book "TWIN TALES FROM KUTCCH" available on Amazon.

 

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