Shaky Foot Wisdom XXV.
Not Quite a Walk in the Park
As the Lark Yet Sings
February 4, 2021
The genetic study results are in! I have tested positive for the LRRK2 gene mutation. The good news is that current human trials are ongoing to study the development of LRRK2 inhibitors to counteract the impact of excess LRRK2 protein that is thought to be behind the damage to brain cells. The scientists’ goal is to demonstrate that in counteracting the excess LRRK2 protein effect, that this medication might also protect brain cells and slow the progression of Parkinson’s.
Here is where the songbird lark raises her voice to gently sing her high-pitched song. Though Parkinson’s has not so far always been quite a walk in the park, my heart’s ears remain tuned to the Lark song singing messages of hope on the horizon. With this news confirming a possible connection to how I developed Parkinson’s, my sweet songbird so sings.
Even in the down days of dopamine’s depletion, I know her song rises ever in my heart. I vow to commit every note to memory and remember to listen even more deeply for the tender notes to rise up and up.
I long for Spring walks beneath the songbird’s tree and standing still to hear too the woodland creatures scurrying about celebrating both the new birth and wild joy of Spring. Yet I must persist a bit longer for an undetermined amount of time for the pandemic to wane and to put an end to this perpetual winter’s hibernation.
Meanwhile, my songbird lark continues her song as I seek to discover my own.
