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.

March 25, 2020March 27, 2020

Tips to Stay Fit During Coronavirus Isolation

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

If you’re in the same boat as my dad, chances are that your gym is on lockdown. Dad was disappointed to hear that Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) is pausing ... Read more

March 11, 2020March 9, 2020

How Your Smartphone Can Help You Manage Parkinson’s

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

My dad was a firm believer in his flip phone and knew it would survive if he dropped it from a considerable height. He counted on it to connect ... Read more

February 19, 2020March 26, 2020

Could CBD Help to Ease Parkinson’s Symptoms?

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

As a Colorado resident, I often wonder about the healing power of plants. We live in a time when the pharmaceutical industry is booming. Pills exist to tame nearly ... Read more

February 5, 2020February 4, 2020

Here’s Why You Should Consider Getting a Dog

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

I’m notorious for attempting to convince everyone in my life to get a dog. I love the furry animals, but I often travel or am in places that aren’t ... Read more

January 22, 2020January 20, 2020

A Rock Steady Boxing Party Showed Me a Community that Cares

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

Christmas hung in the air, smelling faintly of cheese platters and wine. Dad and I had decided to attend a Rock Steady Boxing Christmas party. On the way over, ... Read more

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

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