The last chaotic push for holiday shopping is upon us. Whether you’re buying, giving, requesting, or using gift cards during day-after sales, following are a few suggestions for gifts that might benefit the people in your life with Parkinson’s disease. Above all, it’s important to remember the benefits of…
Life, Lemons, and Lemonade
— Lori DePorter
Lori DePorter lives is Pennsylvania with her husband, Mike. She has three grown sons and a granddaughter. Diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease at 45, Lori became an advocate for Parkinson’s and others with disabilities through health and wellness, writing, public policy, and community outreach. She is a certified personal trainer, a Rock Steady Boxing coach, a PMD Alliance Global Ambassador, and a support group educator. “Life, Lemons, & Lemonade” shares her story and Lori hopes it will empower others to see that life with Parkinson’s is different, but it can still be good.
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There’s a time and a season for everything, as the familiar passage notes, but I didn’t appreciate that sentiment until now. Growing up in Pennsylvania allowed me to experience the changing seasons in all of their glory. Winter brought snow, spring brought new life with flowers, summer was for swimming,…
One thing I’ve been pondering lately is how vulnerable we can be when we have a medical crisis and have to go to a hospital emergency room. Imagine the following scenario: You’re a patient with young-onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD), a subtype of early-onset Parkinson’s. In the ER, you…
As I sit here at 4:30 a.m. typing up this week’s column, how many of you are also up late reading Parkinson’s News Today or visiting the forums? As sleep eludes us, we chat online across different time zones and connect with others who are also managing…
Hope can be found in unexpected places. When you’re lucky enough to find it, grab it, hold onto it, and allow it to fill your life. One of the highlights of attending the 6th World Parkinson Congress, held in early July in Barcelona, Spain, was watching the opening ceremony…
Planning for travel is essential, and my recent trip to Spain for the 6th World Parkinson Congress (WPC) posed a question: While the host city, Barcelona, had planned for me and others with Parkinson’s through the World Parkinson Coalition’s Parkinson’s Ready program, would I be able…
“I would trade places with you,” my friend said. “You have Parkinson’s disease, but you also have people who love you. That matters.” I was speechless, but it’s true. We may take love for granted, but others notice it and wish they had it. I chose this column for…
Parkinson’s disease involves a series of wait-and-see scenarios. Which part is worse: the waiting or the seeing? If you’d asked me that question before my Parkinson’s diagnosis, the clear answer would’ve been seeing. For me, ignorance was bliss. Fast forward a decade, and my answer has changed. I’ve…
Little things can sometimes make a big impact when life happens and fate changes our plans. Everything is constantly changing — including my looks. During a recent conversation about permanent makeup, I announced, “I miss eyeliner and mascara.” Seeing the perplexed look on the faces of those around…
Becoming a grandparent while I have young-onset Parkinson’s disease is a milestone, and life with Parkinson’s is all about celebrating one day, one goal, and one milestone at a time. Diagnosed at 45, I prayed to God to help me be a good mom and, eventually, a fun…
When Barbara Salsberg Mathews moved, the world moved with her. Barbara is an artist, mother, and Parkinson’s disease (PD) patient and advocate on a journey she calls “A Shaky Start.” She uses dance and her experience as a professional mime to manage her symptoms. Barbara unexpectedly…
Ten years is a long time to fill a self-care toolbox, but mine will never be complete, and the same tool will never be at the top. I have favorites, however, and one is my regular therapy session. Whether it’s in person or through telemedicine, I’ve come to depend…
Last week, I met with congressional staff to share my Parkinson’s story and gain support for the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act. As an advocate, I often teach, write, and facilitate support groups, but this was my first experience with public policy. According to the Michael J.
According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, rare diseases affect over 300 million people globally. That seems huge, but it encompasses over 7,000 different rare disease communities. In the U.S., a rare disease is defined as one that…
Welcome to year 10 of my life with Parkinson’s disease. The cure I’d expected hasn’t been found yet, so my journey continues. While there are times of contentment and sadness, there is also joy and laughter as I find humor in the irony of growing older as someone with…
The definition of “caregiver” is different for everyone, depending on where they are in their lives. My husband, Mike, and I never defined him as a caregiver because I wasn’t struggling physically, despite my Parkinson’s disease. Struggling emotionally is a different story, and he’s been my rock and…
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