Overcoming my fear of injury to enjoy a perfect day on the water
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…
The Unshakable Optimist — Mollie Lombardi
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.
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My peculiar Parkinson’s disease symptom: ‘The Claw’
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…
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With my Parkinson’s medications, it’s ‘shake, rattle, and roll’
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…
Heat sensitivity and my summer storm: Hot, hungry, and tired
I’ve always tried to be a pleasant enough person. Polite to strangers, going with the flow, trying to be kind when I can. But three things can cause me to lose my pleasing personality:…
How I’ve begun adapting to adaptive DBS
I took an exciting new step in my Parkinson’s disease treatment path late last month. I moved from constant deep brain stimulation (DBS) to adaptive DBS, which recently was approved by the…
Living with Parkinson’s reminds me what friends are for
Recently I got to spend time with my best friend from back home. We met in seventh grade, and it was 30 years ago this month that we graduated high school together. I don’t…
Celebrating my ‘stupid human tricks’ is all about staying positive
Some of you may recall a recurring bit from the old David Letterman show called “Stupid Human Tricks.” The segment aired from time to time and featured people performing bizarre and downright silly…
How my dad has supported me since my Parkinson’s diagnosis
Last month, in honor of Mother’s Day, I shared some lessons I learned from my mom that have helped me through my journey with Parkinson’s disease. This month, I wanted to share…
How I decided to disclose my Parkinson’s disease at work
When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at 36 years old, I was just reaching the acceleration curve in my career. I was somewhat known in my industry, enjoyed my job, had great…
How I get the most out of my deep brain stimulator
Almost daily I’m reminded of how fortunate I am to have had deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery to treat my Parkinson’s disease. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2013, at the age…
How artificial intelligence could improve Parkinson’s care
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is everywhere today. You hear about it on the news, at work, from your friends and family. There are stories of it being used to create everything from a sixth…
Lessons from my mom that help me in life with Parkinson’s disease
With Mother’s Day fast approaching, it makes sense that I’ve been thinking about my mom a lot. She passed away from pancreatic cancer more than 30 years ago, when I was just 17. Even…
