Last in a series. Read part one. In my previous column, Rachel Dolhun of the Michael J. Fox Foundation shared practical tips for managing challenges like stress and jet lag when living with Parkinson’s. This week, she offers insights on navigating specialized travel services and accommodations, and preparing for…
Shaking Things Up
— Mary Beth Skylis
Mary Beth Skylis (she/her) lives in Colorado, where she works as a full-time freelance writer. As a columnist for Backpacker Magazine and Women’s Health, she spends most of her time learning about the latest developments in the outdoor and health industries. When her dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013, she began conducting research and looking for ways to share her journey. Joining Bionews was the result. Now she works as a forum moderator and continues to share monthly musings about life with Parkinson’s disease.
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A few years ago, I accompanied my dad, who has Parkinson’s disease, to a neurology appointment to observe how his doctor interacted with him and assessed whether his deep brain stimulation hardware needed adjustment. The doctor asked if he was taking the recommended dosage of levodopa at the scheduled…
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…
Air travel is hard, even if you do it frequently. You have to navigate busy places, make it past security, and then cram yourself into an airplane like a sardine in a can — and that’s all before you ever make it to your destination. After my family traveled to…
My dad has always been my superhero. When I was a child, he was the person who would rush home with pizza, sugary drinks, and laughter to break the tension of the day. As I grew older and began navigating the complexities of high school, I knew I could pour…
While boarding a recent flight, I noticed a man a few paces ahead of me in line. He looked to be in his 60s, with sun-worn skin and wrinkles framing his eyes. He wore a worried look on his face while watching the airport screen. I couldn’t help but observe…
Technology can be challenging to navigate, even for someone like me who grew up as it emerged. However, I’ll be the first to admit that it typically makes my life better. Back in the early 2000s, my dad, who has Parkinson’s disease, kept track of all his appointments using…
Over the past few years, I’ve seen a lot of my friends go through the heartbreak of losing a parent. In most cases, the loss was sudden, like a lightning flash in the darkness. There was little buildup. There was no warning sign. One day their parent was alive, and…
I recently saw a social media post from a friend who’d lost her dad. It turns out that her dad and mine shared a birthday, but her dad was six years younger. The post left me puzzled. How was it that my friend was clutching a hole in her chest…
For many, retirement is like a golden ticket promising a life with fewer problems: less worry, less work, less financial strain. You just have to make it to age 66, or whatever age you’re ready to make the shift. It’s supposed to bring relaxation, time off, and the eternal vacation…
My time with my dad is limited by geographical distance: He lives in Michigan while I live in Colorado. When I go home to see him, the Parkinson’s decline seems more obvious to me than it might to those who are with him every day. So when I find…
Throughout my dad’s Parkinson’s disease journey, I’ve learned a lot about his symptoms. They include facial masking, which can make it difficult for those around him to fully understand his emotional experience. Up until this week, however, I’d never heard that he might have a hard time interpreting…
Many years ago, my dad began to lose his sense of smell. A doctor told him that it was likely because of his nasal polyps — small, noncancerous growths that can be caused by long-term inflammation. These polyps are relatively common, affecting up to 40% of the…
My sister is getting married this year. We’re all in a tizzy about it, updating our passports and getting excited about traveling to a wedding we weren’t sure would ever come. Having more reasons to celebrate and come together is a light in the darkness and a refreshing way to…
While walking through the soggy streets of Belfast, Northern Ireland, I saw an excerpt of a poem by American humorist Don Herold. It read: “If I had my life to live over, I’d dare to make more mistakes next time. I’d relax; I’d limber up. I would be sillier…
I don’t know about you, but I’m still having a hard time believing it’s 2025. I know we’re three months in already, but I still feel like we just unwrapped Christmas presents and embraced our loved ones while surrounded by twinkling lights. As I work to get myself into the…
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