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Donovan Wong
Jeremy Lee
Neo Yu Pei
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Saturday, April 25, 2009
Reflections for meeting 2
We met up with Julie at the organization in the morning. We had planned to discuss details about Julie’s talk in conjunction with World Parkinson’s Day at our school as well as to take a look at the mobile display the center had.
At the same time, our group had the opportunity to observe one of the activities the center was organizing for some of their patients. That day happened to be the patients’ third line dancing session, and so we sat at the back to watch while they practiced. We were amazed at how well they danced despite their mobility and balancing problems. For these patients, movement is very difficult for them. If they got too tensed up, their might even find themselves unable to move. That is why before any activity, these patients are required to do a warm-up routine to calm their mind and relax their body. These forms of activities aim to build up the patients’ confidence while exercising their body.
We were inspired by the volunteer who was very passionate in teaching the patients the dance steps. She was also very encouraging and patient, whenever a patient seemed lost, she would take the initiative to help them. The satisfactory look on her face told me she was happy that her efforts paid off. Looking at these patients enjoying themselves, it really made us respect the patient’s strong determination to live. Despite being stricken with an incurable disease, these patients remain optimistic and cheerful. How many people are able to pick themselves of from such difficulties?
For the rest of the morning, we discussed mainly about the exhibition that we were holding at Kong Chian Library - the arrangement of the mobile display, playing of the medical videos and also the possibility of having a talk at our school. Julie shared with us the powerpoint presentation about Parkinson Disease that she had prepared, and from there we got to know alot more of the disease.
-- Donovan
We met up with Julie at the organization in the morning. We had planned to discuss details about Julie’s talk in conjunction with World Parkinson’s Day at our school as well as to take a look at the mobile display the center had.
At the same time, our group had the opportunity to observe one of the activities the center was organizing for some of their patients. That day happened to be the patients’ third line dancing session, and so we sat at the back to watch while they practiced. We were amazed at how well they danced despite their mobility and balancing problems. For these patients, movement is very difficult for them. If they got too tensed up, their might even find themselves unable to move. That is why before any activity, these patients are required to do a warm-up routine to calm their mind and relax their body. These forms of activities aim to build up the patients’ confidence while exercising their body.
We were inspired by the volunteer who was very passionate in teaching the patients the dance steps. She was also very encouraging and patient, whenever a patient seemed lost, she would take the initiative to help them. The satisfactory look on her face told me she was happy that her efforts paid off. Looking at these patients enjoying themselves, it really made us respect the patient’s strong determination to live. Despite being stricken with an incurable disease, these patients remain optimistic and cheerful. How many people are able to pick themselves of from such difficulties?
For the rest of the morning, we discussed mainly about the exhibition that we were holding at Kong Chian Library - the arrangement of the mobile display, playing of the medical videos and also the possibility of having a talk at our school. Julie shared with us the powerpoint presentation about Parkinson Disease that she had prepared, and from there we got to know alot more of the disease.
-- Donovan
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Reflections for meeting 1
We met up with Julie at the organization in the afternoon. Other than discussing about the details of our project, we get to know more about the organization and also the Parkinson Disease.
From what we know from Julie, the organization do not have a centre for their activities to be carried out and this is very inconvenient for them as they have to look for voluntary organizations who are willing to lend them their places for use. This is also due to the insufficient funds in the organization. Thus, Julie also hope that fund raising activities can be help to raise funds for the organization. We also knew that such activities had been done before and they were successful.
Other than talking about our plans, we have also learned more about the disease, not just simply a “hand-shaking” disease. Parkinson disease is not as simple as what we always think. They have to overcome their fear to face the society and this is not an effortless task at all. We get to know more about the signs and symptoms of Parkinson disease, various problems that the patients face and the general situation of the patients through Julie. It was something more than doing research through Internet on our own as we were able to gain more first-hand knowledge and information from her experience and physical contact with the patients.
Parkinson Disease is no longer an old age disease. More and more young people are getting this disease, including teenagers like you and me, although the chances of older people getting this disease are relatively higher. In recent society, I believe that many people lack knowledge of the disease. This is why we have to educate the public. Through the exhibition and talks done by Julie, more people will be able to know about the disease and the Parkinson’s Disease Society of Singapore (PDSS). 一传十, 十传百. Even if there are only a small number of people concerned about Parkinson’s Disease, they will spread the message of the importance to be conscious of Parkinson’s Disease across and the people who receive the message will pass it on as well. In this case, the number of people who knows about the disease will increase, thus raising the awareness of the public regarding the disease. As we know, the patients face a lot of difficulties overcoming their fear of going out, so we have to think of ways to help the patients to resolve this problem. What they are afraid of is the views of the public. When more people get to know and understand the disease, there will be more people who are willing to help out, lending a helping hand to the patients. We also hope that more volunteers will join the organization to help out.
__________
Meeting One
This was our first visit to the society. We met the president of the Parkinson’s Disease Society of Singapore, Ms Julie Lau. She was very inspiring to me. She gave me the impression that she genuinely cared for the patients and that she devotes much of her time to the society.
During our meeting, Julie talked to us about the disease, and I realized that it is not just that the hands shake uncontrollably, it can be temporary inability to move one’s limbs, or slurred speech, hunch-backed. The disease is caused by the lack of production of dopamine in the brain. I was also unable to understand why people suffering from Parkinson’s disease are more hot-tempered than usual. Julie explained that it was due to their immense frustration when they are not able to carry out their motions as they wished to. We also got to understand the plight of these patients, such as their worry of going out in public places for fear that their symptoms could come up anytime they least expect.
We were then invited to watch an exercise that was being conducted. There was this elderly man who was unable to stand up straight. His back was really hunched and he had great difficulty moving his limbs. He was sitting on a chair most of the time. Julie pointed out to us that he was actually sitting on the edge of the chair, and that is why many PD patients fall easily from their chairs. Julie also told us that he was considered lucky because he had two domestic helpers beside him. They were able to bring him to the society and to help him with his movements. Other patients find it difficult and strenuous to get to the centre itself, let alone the fear of not being able to move. We also met an elderly lady who used to be a marathon runner, but she now walks with a slight hunch. However Julie told us that she is very determined not to let the disease control her life. She still runs occasionally.
Jeremy
We met up with Julie at the organization in the afternoon. Other than discussing about the details of our project, we get to know more about the organization and also the Parkinson Disease.
From what we know from Julie, the organization do not have a centre for their activities to be carried out and this is very inconvenient for them as they have to look for voluntary organizations who are willing to lend them their places for use. This is also due to the insufficient funds in the organization. Thus, Julie also hope that fund raising activities can be help to raise funds for the organization. We also knew that such activities had been done before and they were successful.
Other than talking about our plans, we have also learned more about the disease, not just simply a “hand-shaking” disease. Parkinson disease is not as simple as what we always think. They have to overcome their fear to face the society and this is not an effortless task at all. We get to know more about the signs and symptoms of Parkinson disease, various problems that the patients face and the general situation of the patients through Julie. It was something more than doing research through Internet on our own as we were able to gain more first-hand knowledge and information from her experience and physical contact with the patients.
Parkinson Disease is no longer an old age disease. More and more young people are getting this disease, including teenagers like you and me, although the chances of older people getting this disease are relatively higher. In recent society, I believe that many people lack knowledge of the disease. This is why we have to educate the public. Through the exhibition and talks done by Julie, more people will be able to know about the disease and the Parkinson’s Disease Society of Singapore (PDSS). 一传十, 十传百. Even if there are only a small number of people concerned about Parkinson’s Disease, they will spread the message of the importance to be conscious of Parkinson’s Disease across and the people who receive the message will pass it on as well. In this case, the number of people who knows about the disease will increase, thus raising the awareness of the public regarding the disease. As we know, the patients face a lot of difficulties overcoming their fear of going out, so we have to think of ways to help the patients to resolve this problem. What they are afraid of is the views of the public. When more people get to know and understand the disease, there will be more people who are willing to help out, lending a helping hand to the patients. We also hope that more volunteers will join the organization to help out.
__________
Meeting One
This was our first visit to the society. We met the president of the Parkinson’s Disease Society of Singapore, Ms Julie Lau. She was very inspiring to me. She gave me the impression that she genuinely cared for the patients and that she devotes much of her time to the society.
During our meeting, Julie talked to us about the disease, and I realized that it is not just that the hands shake uncontrollably, it can be temporary inability to move one’s limbs, or slurred speech, hunch-backed. The disease is caused by the lack of production of dopamine in the brain. I was also unable to understand why people suffering from Parkinson’s disease are more hot-tempered than usual. Julie explained that it was due to their immense frustration when they are not able to carry out their motions as they wished to. We also got to understand the plight of these patients, such as their worry of going out in public places for fear that their symptoms could come up anytime they least expect.
We were then invited to watch an exercise that was being conducted. There was this elderly man who was unable to stand up straight. His back was really hunched and he had great difficulty moving his limbs. He was sitting on a chair most of the time. Julie pointed out to us that he was actually sitting on the edge of the chair, and that is why many PD patients fall easily from their chairs. Julie also told us that he was considered lucky because he had two domestic helpers beside him. They were able to bring him to the society and to help him with his movements. Other patients find it difficult and strenuous to get to the centre itself, let alone the fear of not being able to move. We also met an elderly lady who used to be a marathon runner, but she now walks with a slight hunch. However Julie told us that she is very determined not to let the disease control her life. She still runs occasionally.
Jeremy