Re: Morton Kondracke

[Guest guest]

An excerpt from " Peggy's journal " on the PLWP website mentions Morton

Kondracke's book as Peggy is reads it to her friend Pat with MSA. I don't

know who Peggy is but she seems to know the Kondrackes and mentions that

Milly has MSA as well. Perhaps Tim or Deborah(Tenacity) know Peggy as they

are on the PLWP website also.

Regards,

Pam

----

http://www.plwp.org/archives/peggys%20journal.htm

08 Aug 2001

.... " Then I shared with Pat about the ne book by Mort Kondrake, Saving Milly.

As I was spilling my heart out to her about how Mort, Executive Editor of

Roll Call, had a wife with Parkinson's Plus (MSA); and had written this

awesome book about his love for Milly and battle with the political arena to

try to save her. I didn't even notice her eyes light up when I saw her

excitedly spelling out a message to me.

Pat had heard Mort on the Jim Bohannan radio show being interviewed about

the book. As I further relayed how I had met Milly in Washington, DC in

June, 2000, and had even exchanged emails a few times, Pat's entire body

seemed to perk up. She could relate to Milly! I had already related with

Milly since our meeting. My attention was on the beautiful, white-haired

lady who was impeccably dressed and yet obviously " unique. " Milly had

reminded me so much of my friend, Pat . . . from the way her thin body

tended to lean in her wheelchair to one side to the way she pursed her lips

and crinkled her nose when attempting to say something. Our meeting had been

brief, but our bond was instant.

I recanted to Pat how I rushed to introduce myself to Milly after the

program that night. In so doing (and ignoring others who had been sitting at

the table with J. Fox), Mort became curious of my interest. We

introduced ourselves, exchanged email addresses, and said goodbye all in the

frame of 15 minutes. I hadn't even noticed that I was holding Milly's hand

the entire time.

It was late, and Milly was tired. But as Mort wheeled her away, our eyes

locked. I saw the same sparkle - the same ray of hope in her eyes that I see

in Pat's. It's as though they both were saying, " Finally! Here was someone

willing to take time to hear my silent voice! " I teared up as Milly was

swept away, just like I do each time I leave Pat.

After my story was complete, Pat must have asked one hundred questions about

Milly. Pat had vicariously bonded with Milly. " Does she tremor? " Pat asked;

" How long has she had symptoms? " and, " What kind of surgery did she have? "

Pat ended her throng of questions with a single comment, " Tell her husband I

heard him on the radio. " Then I found myself thinking aloud, " I hope you can

one day meet Milly. "

The smiles and listening patience I bring to Pat at each visit had never

brought the enthusiastic interest that this story had brought. She made me

promise to read her the book, and that's when I began to question if I

should have ever brought it up. Was she prepared to hear the graphic details

of Milly's surgeries? Could she handle the innermost thoughts of a

carepartner? Would it give her hope or end it? And most of all, could she

relate to Milly and realize that she's not alone? I decided that the risk

would be worth it. I would begin reading the book at our next visit.

I also decided that I would forward thie journal entry to Mort and Milly.

I've never shared their home email address, and I never will. Mort saw the

empathy I had for Milly that night. He had sat by her side to help her

separate her words or possibly even type them as Milly and I had exchanged

details about our kids, our interests, and our hope. If there ever was the

opportunity to have one wish, it would be that Milly and Pat get to someday

meet in this lifetime. "