In 2013, at the age of 36, Mollie Lombardi was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Six years later, she underwent brain surgery to implant a deep brain stimulation device that now helps manage her symptoms. She writes about the challenges of young-onset PD, including working full time, travel, and navigating the joys of being a wife, daughter, auntie, sister, and friend. Her column, “The Unshakable Optimist,” is about not letting the tremors of life get you down and the benefits of a positive attitude when battling a chronic illness every day.
While more than 10 million people are estimated to be living with Parkinson’s disease globally, many people still don’t know much about it. My grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in his 70s, yet I knew very little about its symptoms or treatments until I was also diagnosed with it.
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I have a neurologist appointment coming up soon, which has me thinking about how lucky I am to be able to say that. I’m fortunate to have a great neurologist who treats me for Parkinson’s disease. I’m also fortunate that she is just one part of a medical…
One of the most disruptive aspects of a disease like Parkinson’s is the lack of predictability, which shows up in many ways. In the long term, there is the unpredictability of how quickly and in what ways the disease will progress. There is the shorter-term uncertainty of how…
October is a busy month in my household. We celebrate both my husband’s birthday and our wedding anniversary. It’s been 19 years this year, and I can say that we never imagined where we’d be now when we said “I do.” When you plan your wedding, you don’t always think…
When it comes to weird and unexpected symptoms, Parkinson’s disease is the gift that keeps on giving. My grandfather had Parkinson’s, yet when I was diagnosed with it, the only symptom I’d heard of before was tremors. As I eventually learned, that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Parkinson’s disease is not only degenerative but incurable, which means it gets worse, to some degree, every day. While we still don’t have any proven disease-modifying treatments — those that will actually stop, reverse, and cure Parkinson’s — advances in technology have helped to control symptoms. And as I’ve…
Anniversaries can be good and bad, loving celebrations or reminders of past tragedies. For me, the anniversary of my diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease is a bit of both. It was awful and tragic and life-altering in some ways. But it’s also the day we named the monster that…
September is the most active month for hurricanes in the U.S., so it makes sense that it’s also National Preparedness Month. It’s essential to consider how you’d survive in the face of a natural disaster — be it a hurricane, flood, or wildfire — and to make plans for…
One of the most unhelpful things you can say to a Parkinson’s disease patient is, “Just relax and get comfortable.” For me, and many of my fellow Parkinson’s warriors, the idea of relaxing and being comfortable is a ship that sailed long ago. I’m almost always experiencing some level…
Parkinson’s disease can be a tricky opponent. Its path and progression, as well as the timing and nature of its symptoms, vary from person to person and can change within an individual from day to day. That can make diagnosis complex and confusing for everyone. One of the quirks…
I achieved a major accomplishment recently. Not only did I ride in a boat, but I was also able to use the tiny, foldable swim ladder off the back of the boat to go swimming — and I didn’t hurt myself. To an average person, this may not seem like…
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with various medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. You know how when professional wrestlers or politicians take the stage, they’ll often play…
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