A celebration of art by people with Parkinson s Disease

Transcription

1 A celebration of art by people with Parkinson s Disease 2009

2 UCB Pharma S.A., a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Brussels, is dedicated to the research, development and commercialisation of innovative medicines with focus on the fields of central nervous system and immunology disorders. UCB is committed to improving the lives of people with Parkinson's Disease and other movement disorders, by developing new treatments and meaningful support programmes to enable patients, carers and healthcare professionals to work together to overcome the everyday challenges of living with these diseases. In Spring 2008 an art initiative was established by UCB Pharma in the German magazine 'Parkinson aktuell', a magazine for people with Parkinson's Disease and their families. People were asked to depict themes associated with a "shining moment", a moment that they hold very positively in their memory, or in which they were able to forget their Parkinson's Disease. A great number of highly creative art was received and a jury convened to select the winning entries. The images in this calendar includes all artwork nominated by the jury. Here's to many shining moments in 2009! Front cover image by Helmut

3 Elisabeth January

4 Anneliese February

5 Helmut March

6 Helga April

7 Isabel May

8 Monica June

9 Brigitte July

10 Helmut August

11 Angela September

12 Johann October

13 Gita November

14 Karin December

15 January Elisabeth is 72 years old. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's 13 years ago. Today she lives in a home for assisted living. Only one person is depicted. That tells me, you are relatively lonely when you are as fidgety as me. Nobody can tolerate that any longer! February Anneliese is 84 years old. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's 4 years ago. Parkinson's makes her uncertain, because she doesn't know what tomorrow brings. I am part of a senior citizens' painting group. We meet once a week and I always look forward to that day. I hope that my hand can still guide the brush and pen for a long time to come. March Helmut is 59 years old. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's 10 years ago. Helmut goes on hikes with his brother, of course only on short trails. During these hikes he often forgets about his illness. A beautiful shining moment: on a low mountain hike in the Werretal area, arriving at our destination in the evening light. April Helga is 72 years old. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's 20 years ago. With her art she finds new ways to remain active despite Parkinson's. I can hardly reach for the paintbrush any more. When you used to paint often and enthusiastically, it is difficult to let go, like so many things with Parkinson's. Now I have discovered a completely new technique for myself, which requires a different approach but can also bring joy: the collage. May Isabel is 51 years old. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's 39 years ago. When she is feeling down, she thinks about how her daughter needs her. Then she feels better. The shining moment of my life was 16 years ago, when my daughter was born. Throughout the pregnancy I had taken all my medication. The hope and the knowledge that my child has to be born healthy was all that I had in my mind and soul. June Monica is 43 years old. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's 8 years ago. She feels that her life with Parkinson's is not easy and thinks that outsiders find it hard to understand what it is like to live with the illness. My husband and I have been married for 21 years, although we only had a civil ceremony. Now we will marry in a church, which was always my biggest wish; for me the wedding will be the most shining moment of all. July Brigitte is 73 years old. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's 14 years ago. Painting to her means getting out of the everyday confines of her illness, at least in mind. Parkinson's limits the patient's options, whether it is not being able to drive the car yourself any more, or, when planning a trip having to ask at the travel agency first whether there are handles in the bath. August Helmut is 66 years old. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's 10 years ago. For Helmut, painting is an opportunity for concentration, work and joy. What this picture means to me? Having the time to enjoy and who even has that in these hectic times? September Angela is 54 years old. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's 4 years ago. In harmony with nature she can forget about her troubles, for example on a caravan holiday in North Britanny. Woken up mercilessly early in the morning by Parkinson's, I went on a small lonely walk down the beach and experienced a glorious sunrise with cormorants and seagulls. I felt healthy, as though there was no Parkinson's, and was at one with nature. October Johann is 73 years old. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's 6 years ago. Johann loves ballroom dancing. For the past 2 years he has had to use a walking frame. It is phenomenal that, when I hear good dancing music, I can dance for almost 30 minutes just like before, in my best days. Then I am so overwhelmed with feelings of joy that the tears start to flow and people who saw me earlier with the walking frame can hardly believe how I can move. November Gita is 67 years old. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's 7 years ago. Painting is a comfort and distraction for her. I bathed the magical landscape of Tuscany, which I love above everything, in the early morning light. This view is dreamily beautiful to me and a truly shining moment. December Karin is 66 years old. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's 11 years ago. Painting gives her inner peace. Parkinson's I always say Parki is not my enemy. He is a partner, who I have to defy. I don't let myself get down and I fight. Sometimes I think, what is it again that will happen to me? Where do I go from here? A celebration of art by people with Parkinson s Disease UCB Pharma S.A.