He shared with me one week after the dx when we all had dinner out. He asked that I keep the information private. He wanted to explain what Parkinson's is and I told him that I knew it well, being a carrier of a Parkinson's gene mutation. He is about 20 years my senior and we only met several years ago and he has been extremely loving to me. He told me that this dx explains his frequent falls. He indeed has been hit hard by adversity in the past year. I have visited him in hospitals and rehab centers.

Several years ago, I read an article about how dancing helps slow the progression of Parkinson's. Apparently dancing is the best tool. So I told him that right upon hearing about the dx. I now feel that I might have rushed with a solution whereas he might have been looking for simple compassion, not problem-solving. But I am not sure.

Later, I did a search on Google trying to find that article (I finally found it: https://stanfordmag.org/contents/why-dance-matters) and a local dance class taught by professional dancers and offered through Stanford Healthcare popped up as #1 search result. I sent that information to his wife, my distant cousin. She still has not responded but she has been known to be very slow in replying to email. She herself is well and energetic, knock on wood. He does not have an email address as far as I know. He texts but I sent all the links to her because it is more convenient to send links, and I gather to read them, too, via email. I do not text much in general, only when absolutely necessary; I prefer email. He does not use Facebook, either, and probably does not use Messenger. Another reason I sent the links to her was because she seems to be the one organizing everything in their family.

What can I do to let him know that I care about him and have been thinking about him? How many more days should I wait for his wife's response to my emails about dancing before I text him to let him know that I emailed her all those links? I do not want to send the links to him via text because this would make it appear that I distrust his wife.

I want to express concern that I genuinely feel and show support but not to overcommit myself because I know that I am busy and won't be able to, say, phone him regularly even though I know that he would prefer it.

I also know from his wife and from him that he has mental illness, probably depression but I am not sure, and I know that Parkinson's can independently cause depression even in patients without prior history of it and I am worried that innate mental illness plus Parkinson's can make him very depressed down the line.

Should I share with him that I now believe that I might have rushed towards solutioning when I heard about the dx instead of expressing pure compassion or is it OK?

I also want to connect him with the research on Parkinson's that I am part of as a carrier.

I just want to make sure I do it in a way that underscores compassion and dial back my tendency to problem solve.