Do You Have a Mentor?

Are you a motivator? Sometimes, when Posy feels particularly low, she finds it difficult to be a cheerleader for others. Yet, many wonderful people with horrible diseases carry on inspiring others. Somehow, they push through their suffering to keep the rest of us hopeful.

If that sounds like you, Posy is full of admiration. Posy manages a few good deeds with her music, but you are awesome! Where do you get your energy, stamina, and self-discipline? Who inspired you? Was there a person who helped you in the aftermath of your diagnosis?

Who has inspired Posy? It was inevitable, considering her social media addiction that her eager eye would stumble across a potential mentor online. Emma Lawton, a young Parkinson's disease (PD) advocate, decided to post a video every single evening for a year about her life with Parkinson's.

She had already established her credentials with a self-published book, Dropping the P Bomb. Posy devoured every relevant, stimulating, and often amusing word and eagerly anticipated every single vlog.

Identifying with your mentor's issues

Having been diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's by her consultant, Posy gladly identified with Emma's struggles.

In the first months of blogging, Emma needed to arise at some ungodly hour to do her signature eyeliner, before her tremors could make her paint zig-zags across her face! Posy bore in mind that one day, she too would probably find grooming a struggle. Perhaps a stand for her hair-drier might help?

Inspiration

It was refreshing to have an unwitting mentor. Emma had bucket-loads of confidence. She had a job, relationship, good friends and a loving family. But it was her own sheer determination that enabled her to overcome and deal with her problems.

Without fail, day after day, however terrible she felt, Emma presented her vlog. Posy learned that if someone far younger than she could manage to stay positive, even though her symptoms were far worse than her own, maybe Posy would cope, too.

Emma inspired many. Her tremor was affecting her work. For example, a young scientist developed a special watch to reduce Emma's shaking. It was miraculous to see, on a TV documentary, how it immediately steadied Emma's hand and enabled her to draw a straight line!

True grit

Posy was horrified when Emma’s neck problems suddenly deteriorated to the point where she could no longer lift her head off her chest. Surely this was going to be temporary? Posy wanted to shout to every doctor, "Please, fix her!" But it persisted and they did not. So, what did she do? Did she quit doing the vlog? Did she hide away?

Mais non! She filmed her feet as she walked and talked, or she lay on the couch and looked up at the camera. My goodness, she had determination and positivity, but at the same time, she was not trying to sugar-coat the effect Parkinson’s was having on her life. She showed her audience just how awful things could be.

Raising awareness

Seeing Emma at her worst and yet carrying on, finding ways around her problems, was truly inspiring. Emma prepared Posy for the sleeplessness, fatigue, and other symptoms that she was not aware would have such an impact on her life and well-being.

Emma still works and rushes around raising awareness of PD. You can watch her Ted talks, such as, "What Parkinson’s Taught Me," on YouTube. I believe she has attempted stand-up comedy, too!

Thank you, Emma. You are a star!