Posts by: Mary Beth Skylis

Mary Beth Skylis

Mary Beth is a Freelance Writer who specializes in personal narratives. Her work focuses on the outdoors and the transformative powers of nature. But when her Dad was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2013, her search to understand the disease materialized through language.

January 8, 2020January 7, 2020

Deep Brain Stimulation: Time for a Tuneup

Columns, Shaking Things Up - a Column by Mary Beth Skylis

My sister, Dad, and I waited in the doctor’s office before Christmas for his deep brain stimulation (DBS) appointment. Dad underwent DBS last fall, and it’s time for a ... Read more

December 18, 2019December 16, 2019

Weight Loss and Parkinson’s Disease

Columns, Shaking Things Up - a Column by Mary Beth Skylis

Dad used to tell us that he has two sets of clothes: a normal set and a set of “skinny clothes” that emerge when he gets sick. Dad was ... Read more

December 4, 2019December 2, 2019

Managing the Cost of Chronic Illness

Columns, Shaking Things Up - a Column by Mary Beth Skylis

Chronic illness is expensive. It costs money, time, and peace of mind. Whether you’re sifting through your worries or counting the pennies in your pocket, illnesses affect all avenues ... Read more

November 20, 2019November 19, 2019

Looking at Parkinson’s Potential Links to the Gut Microbiome

Columns, Shaking Things Up - a Column by Mary Beth Skylis

I wonder if my dad’s battle with ulcerative colitis is linked to his struggles with Parkinson’s disease. Because of a series of medical complications, he’s missing his colon, a ... Read more

November 6, 2019November 1, 2019

Writing About Parkinson’s Disease Is Hard

Columns, Shaking Things Up - a Column by Mary Beth Skylis

Writing about Parkinson’s disease is a cumbersome game. I’m a journalist in my regular life, so I’m no stranger to telling complicated and emotional stories. But my lens is ... Read more

October 23, 2019October 21, 2019

Muhammad Ali’s Life and Parkinson’s Legacy

Columns, Shaking Things Up - a Column by Mary Beth Skylis

Dad has always loved films about fighters. There’s an allure to watching an underdog rise to fame. Maybe he’s mesmerized by the strength of characters like Rambo and Muhammad ... Read more

October 2, 2019November 13, 2019

James Parkinson’s Work Paved the Way for Future Research

Columns, Shaking Things Up - a Column by Mary Beth Skylis

James Parkinson changed the course of medical history when he first described the “Shaking Palsy” in 1817, at a time when little was known about neurological and degenerative diseases. ... Read more

September 25, 2019September 23, 2019

Examining Muscle Weakness and Rigidity in Parkinson’s Disease

Columns, Shaking Things Up - a Column by Mary Beth Skylis

The sun peeks over the horizon, and before long Dad is up and at it. It’s a boxing day, and he wants to time his medications to optimize control ... Read more

September 11, 2019September 10, 2019

Simple Solutions That Make Living with Parkinson’s a Little Easier

Columns, Shaking Things Up - a Column by Mary Beth Skylis

Parkinson’s disease introduces challenges into your daily life. Tasks that were once second nature become more complicated when you’re managing symptoms like tremors and dyskinesia. Fortunately, product designers are ... Read more

August 28, 2019August 26, 2019

What Changed After DBS Surgery No. 1

Columns, Shaking Things Up - a Column by Mary Beth Skylis

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) can affect both cognitive and motor symptoms in Parkinson’s patients who undergo the surgery. The procedure gives hope to those who are substantially inhibited by ... Read more

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