No Doorway Wide Enough

By: Bill Schmalfeldt on Podiobooks.com
  • Summary

  • It was just about three weeks after his 45th birthday in 2000 when Bill Schmalfeldt was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In 2007 while working at a federal agency as a writer and podcaster, telling other people about the importance of clinical trials, Bill heard about and volunteered for an experimental brain surgery to determine whether or not "deep brain stimulation" could be done on patients in the earlier stages of the disease. This is the story of Bill's "Parkinson's Decade" from being diagnosed in 2000, to having the surgery in 2007, through today. The story is told in a humorous, satirical, almost jovial style considering the fact that Bill's motor skills and cognition continue to degenerate. This is an audiobook that should be heard by anyone who HAS Parkinson's, anyone who knows and loves someone with Parkinson's, and anyone who is considering deep brain stimulation surgery. Bill has promised to donate 100 percent of the author's proceeds from the sale of this book to the National Parkinson Foundation and the Charles DBS Research Fund at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. You can read Bill's blog at http://parkinsondiary.com.
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Episodes
  • NoDoorway 17
    Aug 2 2010

    In this FINAL EPISODE of "No Doorway Wide Enough, I'll explain how this book came by its name.  I'll serve up, perhaps, the WEIRDEST dream I've had so far, I'll share a poem I call, "Ode to an Adult Diaper," we'll wrap up the first round of physical therapy, I'll run down a list of things I wanted to discuss with my neurologist at the next visit,  and we'll wrap up this book, on the three year anniversary of the day I had my deep brain stimulation surgery.

    Thanks to the cats at Cheap Radio Thrills and Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for the music, and thanks to the gang at Podiobooks for putting this on their site.  Now that we have a complete book, I'm asking one final time for you to dig into your pocket and donate to PD research.  You can get a hard copy of this book at practically every major online bookseller and through my website.  And you can donate right here on the Podiobooks website. 

    With this episode, the book is complete.  If you've enjoyed this story, if you found it inspirational in any way, I hope you will donate to help find a cure for this devastating disease  Don't forget, 100 percent of all author proceeds go to the National Parkinson Foundation and the Charles DBS Research Fund at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.  Vanderbilt is seeking to expand their clinical trial nationwide... going from the current 30 patients to hundreds, perhaps thousands.  But they need donations.

    If this book moved you in any way, if it inspired you, if it made you think about your own mortality and how YOU would handle the diagnosis of this beast of a disease at an early age, then I beeseech you once again to dig into your pockets -- buy a hardcopy, or donate through Podiobooks.

    Be watching for my next podiobook, a raucous and horribly politically-incorrect bit of fiction called, "Undercover Trucker, How I Saved America by Truckin' Towels for the Taliban."  Should be up on Podiobooks before too much longer.

    Thank you for your time!

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    29 mins
  • NoDoorway 16
    Aug 2 2010

    In this, the pentultimate episode, I start with the speech therapy.  I share my toughts on whether or not drowning in iced tea is a good way for a man to die.  Then I share some of the untold benefits of working at home, and I wondered aloud about the lack of Parkinson's Disease Awareness during Parkinson's Disease Awareness month and the reasons for it.

    One more episode to go!  Remember, you can get hard copies at practically every online bookstore, as well as through my website -- http://parkybill.com or http://parkinsondiary.com.

    Every nickel I make from this book is donated to the National Parkinson Foundation and the Charles DBS Research Fund at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.  Either donate through Podiobooks or buy a copy, and help find a cure for this bastard of a disease.

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    34 mins
  • NoDoorway 15
    Aug 1 2010

    In Episode 15, I talk with blessed assurance about what is going to happen to me after I die... and it has NOTHING to do with religion.  I cause a little kid to be terrified of old men and their walkers.  I have my first really vivid and well-formed hallucination.  I discuss the curse of nightly throat crud.  And I answer a Facebook posting from a very nice lady who said I sounded angry and suffering from hopelessness.

    We have just a couple episodes left, and I want to remind you again that you can purchase a hard copy of this book at practically every major online bookseller.  Don't forget, 100 percent of all author proceeds go to the National Parkinson Foundation and the Charles DBS Research Fund at Vanderbilt University Medcal Center.  They get 100 percent of whatever you donate for this Podiobook as well.  Just sayin' is all.

    You DO wanna help cure Parkinson's disease, don't you?  :)

     

     

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    33 mins

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