Personal Stories of Arizonans with Parkinson's

Watch the video "I May Have Parkinson's but Parkinson's Doesn't Have Me: -- Lori McWilliams. 

(3.3minutes, wmv file)

Watch the 2 minute public service announcement (2 minutes, wmv file)

Patchworks for Parkinson's

Linda Webb and her husband moved to Williams, AZ from Jarrettsville, MD, in May of 2003 for "retirement" and a new lifestyle. Within nine months after the move, Linda was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and her life changed in many ways, just not quite the ways she had imagined.

Quilting was something she always enjoyed, and she had planned to have more time for in retirement. Linda does have more time, but as she says, "It isn't always 'on' time." However, she isn't letting PD stop her, she still has lots of quilts planned.

What Linda really likes to do are "toppers," that is designing and piecing the tops of quilts. She wants to use her love of quilts and design to bring attention to PD and its effects on our lives, and to help other PWPs (people with PD). Linda was actually working on a traditional pieced tulip design when she saw Karen Painter's PD tulip on www.pdplan4life.com/pdtulip.htm. She contacted Jean Burns who encouraged her to create a quilt using that design.

The top is finished and ready for quilting. The AZ-APDA would like to use the finished quilt to promote Parkinson's awareness, and also to raise funds to help people with PD who have limited resources get needed treatments.

If you have any suggestions, Linda would love to hear from you. If you are a quilter and would like to get involved in this "Patchworks for Parkinson's " Project, please contact Linda. We would love to see this project bloom and benefit PWPs everywhere.
 

Quilt top created by
Linda Webb
(click to view larger image)  

A symbol for all people with Parkinson's

Karen Painter, a young onset from Washington state, designed a unique symbol for Parkinson's disease. She created a red tulip with leaves that curl around and spell out "PD." (see image at right)  It is Karen's wish that this symbol be given out freely for all PWP to use.

Arizonans with Parkinson's will receive pins based on Karen's design, thanks to a grant from UCB.  And you can read more about Karen and her design on pdplan4life. Jean Burns, PWP and AZ-APDA volunteer is actively promoting the use of Karen's design across the U.S.  It is a design "for all people with Parkinson's, no matter if you are affiliated with NPF, APDA, or PDF or no affiliation at all!," Burns says. 

Anyone interested in using this PD tulip design should contact Burns who will send them graphics suitable for web or printing. And Burns is posting use of this symbol on pdplan4life.com/pdtulip3.htm .

PD Tulip design by Karen Painter