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Submitted by PatientsEngage on 24 May 2020

Marianne De Nazareth, author, caregiver to her parents and a contributor to PatientsEngage shares her review of "Destination Unknown: My Journey with Parkinsons" by Rajeev Gupta.   

For the reader, the carer, the person with Parkinsons, this book could not be closer to the bone and more helpful to understand the illness. Simply because it is the author - Rajeev Gupta’s own journey and experience, battling the dreaded disease. A book that traverses his entire battle with this vicious disease, from the Diagnosis to his Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery, he covers everything, anyone would want to know, about how to handle this sadly incurable disease.

Rajeev, who is an IT professional, in the peak of his career,was struck by Parkinsons. In a simple and lucid style, he writes a clear expose of his personal experience of the diagnosis, treatment options, support systems and the human side of the illness that he faced. Barely fifty-five he finds it exceedingly difficult to accept that he has the disease and how he finally, gut wrenchingly, takes the disease head on, with the unconditional support of his wife and his two young student sons.

Rajeev quotes Dr Paul Kalanithi at the start of a number of his chapters, and is obviously his inspiration. “Why me?” (Answer: Why not me?)” – Paul Kalanithi, When Breath Becomes Air

A question he asked himself, like a number of terminally ill patients do.

The importance of a doctor that a patient can connect with and talk to, is an important point that he brings out. It took him time to zero in on a doctor willing to give him time and talk with him, rather than talk ‘down’ to him. A doctor who was willing to listen to his doubts and the fact that in today's world a patient believes he knows all because of information he keeps reading off the net.

The need for exercise is strongly stressed by the author. How difficult it is for a person with Parkinsons to stick to an exercise regimen. The different types of exercises he tried and the importance of it for everyone, not just an ill person.

In barely six years the galloping disease caused him to lose his job and worry about how they could afford further medical expenses with the children still needing funds for their education.

Six brutal years of fighting and trying to see light at the end of the tunnel, he takes the reader through his emotional and physical journey and the degeneration of a once healthy man with Parkinson’s, with all the underlying stresses of trying to be ‘normal’..

Two books that helped him through the early stages of the disease were: “ Lucky Man: A Memoir: by Michael J. Fox and “A Soft Voice in a Noisy World” by Karl Robb. Since Rajeev could not find a book which anyone’s fight with the disease based in India, he decided to write his own.

That is why, the book serves as an excellent handbook for newly diagnosed and existing patients, caregivers and the extended family members. He has explained how his battle started and continued through the pages. Not wordy and heavy, the book is a quick read for all who want to familiarize themselves with the disease - Parkinson’s and also gives practicing doctors and health workers an insight into the thoughts, emotions and expectations of those dealing with Parkinson’s.

Two points that Rajeev has made that stand out for me are

1) It is not only a geriatric person’s disease. It can hit at any age and we know about Michael J Fox and his fight from a fairly young age.

2) Is that no two Parkinson’s sufferers have the same symptoms and reactions. Some may have shaking hands which happily he did not have, but could have rigidity instead.

A book that is both absorbing and informative and worth buying for persons with Parkinson’s and their caregivers in India.

 

The book is avaiable on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.in/dp/1648056369

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