Columns

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Receiving a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease at age 45 in March 2010 marked the beginning of…

The drive home turned into a quiet ceremony, a gentle transition between worlds I didn’t yet have the language for. After spending long days with my uncle Brandon, who had Parkinson’s disease, I would get in the car, turn on something soothing and timeless like Sade, and let the…

The fear of falling is a common phobia, particularly among people over 65. Between 20%-85% of seniors have anxiety about falling, and up to half of them say the fear restricts them from their daily activities. Aging and Parkinson’s disease are risk factors for falling. And of course,…

It was 2:30 a.m., and I was peacefully asleep when I was jolted awake by an arm suddenly flinging over from the other side of the bed, landing squarely on my face. Instantly, shrieks erupted — first from me, then from my husband, Dave, and finally from both of us…

During the time in my life when I was busy and always rushing around, with no idea what Parkinson’s disease even was, my husband, John, and I “peaked” on pets: 12 chickens, five cats, two sheep, and two dogs. When I got home from work, I’d rush over to…

I previously wrote about how Parkinson’s disease did not arrive in my life all at once, but through memory, in moments that only made sense years later, when I found myself replaying the past, trying to understand what I had missed and why it still mattered. Caregiving, however,…

First in a series. Earlier in January, I wrote about Bryan Roberts, a member of the Michael J. Fox Foundation Patient Council, and the ways he manages his Parkinson’s disease while traveling. This week, I’ll share part of an email conversation I had with Rachel Dolhun, the…

When you live with Parkinson’s disease long enough, you start to notice a pattern: The hard days rarely begin with some dramatic crash. They start with something subtle drifting out of alignment. The step is a little shorter. The timing is a little late. The hand doesn’t want to…

It is incredible how many new things we learned during my husband Arman’s recent hospital and rehabilitation stays. While working with new therapists, nurses, and specialists, we gathered numerous tips and tricks to aid us on our journey with his Parkinson’s disease. We had a fantastic speech therapist who…

I have always been a voracious reader. I was in love with books even before I could read them, and always wanted the grown-ups to read to me. The Mr. Men and Little Miss books were an early favorite. With titles like “Little Miss Somersault” and “Mr. Nosey,”…