World Parkinson Congress
February 28th, 2006 | by Ed |Hey, I’m back!
Janet and I got back last night from Washington, DC where we attended the the historic World Parkinson Congress. It was the first international Parkinson conference that was geared for doctors, scientists, researchers and medical health care professionals, as well as for Parkinson patients and caregivers.
The WPC brought together the leading experts in the field from all over the world, and featured Michael J. Fox as the opening speaker. There were non-stop meetings–plenary sessions, workshops and symposia–from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
It was a classic good news / bad news scenario. The good news is that it was very informative. The bad news is that it was very informative.
As long as I could maintain the detached and objective perspective of a scientist, it was fascinating stuff! But every so often, I’d remember that I wasn’t there as a doctor or a scientist, and the sober reality would hit me, ”That’s me they’re talking about!”
During those times, the conference might as well have been named “Everything You Wanted to Know About Parkinson’s Disease (*and wished you hadn’t asked).” It was kind of like getting a visit from the ghost of Christmas future!
Having said that, I’m still glad that we went. Knowledge is probably the greatest weapon a patient has in the fight against Parkinson’s Disease. If I’m going to fight this battle, I want to know everything I can about my enemy.
It was encouraging to learn that promising research is moving forward on many different fronts–gene therapy, stem cell therapy, new surgical procedures and a plethora of drug therapies (the good news). But all this promising research is just that–promising. There are many promises…but no magic bullets on the horizon (the bad news).
We’re not even close to a cure. But, at the same time, any one of these promising lines of research may provide the breakthrough that could lead to the cure. So we continue to hope and pray.
I’m glad Janet and I went to the conference…but it’s good to be home.
5 Responses to “World Parkinson Congress”
By Michael Black on Feb 28, 2006 | Reply
Did you get a chance to meet any patients?
We will continue to pray with you.
“Be strong. Be courageous.” - groundbreaking 2003
By Barbara Ruglio on Mar 1, 2006 | Reply
It is good to know that we serve a mighty God, one that when you factor Him into the equation, He can change the outcome!
We need to hold onto that belief in that mighty God that created the heavens and the earth, that parted the Red Sea, that raised Christ from the dead. A God that is good all the time. A God that loves us all the time.
We love you too, Ed. And we’ve been listening. And that is why we will keep praying.
By Barbara Ruglio on Mar 4, 2006 | Reply
As I read about Paul’s life in the book of Acts, and I see the extraordinary things he had accomplished, I feel I need to keep reminding myself that Paul was just an ordinary man. Indeed, he was not only ordinary, he routinely suffered, at the hands of the very people he sought to minister to. He was beaten, stoned and left for dead, thrown into prison, but continued to minister.
Even more than that, Paul ministered with a “thorn in the flesh.” He prayed for relief but the Father would not heal his flesh, but encouraged him to minister in spite of it.
And Paul did just that. In fact, his latter ministry was more far-reaching than the first. In his illness and chained to the Roman guards, Paul ministered in a way more enduring than the first. It was there he wrote his letters that we read today, his treasured words from the heart of Christ.
Some would argue that your thorn, Ed, is from Christ and some would say it is from the enemy. I say, it does not matter! I know you and I know Christ. He will have His way with you and you will minister while you have breath. Indeed, your legacy will long outlive you! In the end, Christ will win and will use all for His glory. Maybe your ministry may look different as the years progress. But it will increase, as that is Christ’s way. He will use your wound, your thorn, for His glory.
And I fully expect that your latter ministry will be greater and more enduring than the first. I am waiting with an expectant and joyful heart to see how our loving, good God works it all out.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
By Joy L. Huston, Ph.D. on Mar 17, 2006 | Reply
Hi Ed-I’m a Christian Clinical Psychologist who treats alot of people and family members dealing with chronic illness. I’m just starting to practice in Upper Montclair, so I was poking around on the web to get to know the community and ended up on your site and blog (Great website!). Felt I was getting to know a thoughtful and passionate Christian, then I saw this. So sorry about your illness, but I know God will inspire many through you. I can see you are important to many. You will be in my prayers.
By Vic Emeliantsev on May 11, 2006 | Reply
Pastor Ed,
Ditto for what Barb shared, both times, but especially the second. I believe you were somewhere in one the 40 parts of Moses when we learned of your illness. May have been just after the bitter waters part. As I reflected back on what was one of the best series, I felt that God prepared you for the news as you prepared “your” sermons. That belief is stronger now because I think each “latter” sermon is more Holy Spirit filled than each former.
God has used you to preach some powerful sermons in the past. I can’t remember a “bad” one since I visited the church many years ago, walked in on the wonderful Philipian marathon, and have heard every one since (thanks to the tape ministry). You were doing the “…work out your salvation with…” part, and it cleared up many religious entanglements for me. However, now, I really believe there’s a depth and reality, and intensity like rarely before.
Yes, for me anyway, the latter is better, and if it’s because of the thorn, what an huge price. But then the author and finisher of our faith did too.
God bless you Ed, and yes, prayers fly heavenward for you daily.