Caregiving Unfiltered
— Crystal Onyema

Crystal Onyema is a Texas-based writer with expertise in healthcare, education, and research-driven digital content. Her personal experience caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s informs her work and reflects her deep respect for the Parkinson’s community.

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My uncle with Parkinson’s had time for those buttons, even if I didn’t

As you may already know, my uncle Brandon was a proud man. He liked to do what he could, when he could, and how he could, on his own terms. Even something as ordinary as putting on a jacket meant something to him. He had been doing it for decades…

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Being reminded that my uncle was still in the room was an important lesson

As my late Uncle Brandon’s Parkinson’s disease progressed, my family became increasingly involved in helping him navigate appointments, medications, physical therapy, and everyday life. But somewhere along the way, we started making mistakes. At times, we began talking about Uncle Brandon more than we talked to him. At first,…

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The day NASCAR got a win over my uncle’s Parkinson’s disease

Throughout my late uncle Brandon’s journey with Parkinson’s disease, my family made sure he kept up with his physical therapy. At one point, we started seeing progress. His balance seemed a little better. His confidence had improved. And he was buying into the process more than he had in…

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Convincing Uncle Brandon to do his exercises was an exercise itself

If Parkinson’s disease had one ally in our household, it was my late uncle Brandon’s ability to avoid doing his home exercises. As I’ve mentioned before, Uncle Brandon was proud. He liked to stay busy, solve problems, and do things his way. Even as his Parkinson’s worsened, he wouldn’t…

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Parkinson’s slowed movement, but also our family’s rhythm

Before Parkinson’s disease, my late uncle Brandon was always on the move. He always needed something to do, especially on weekends. If he wasn’t planning a hunting trip, he was outside grilling ribs, sausage, or brisket and inviting neighbors over without a second thought. The house was rarely quiet.

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Loving my uncle meant learning a new way to talk about Parkinson’s

One of the toughest things about caregiving wasn’t always the words themselves. It was figuring out how to say them. As my uncle Brandon’s Parkinson’s disease progressed, there were certain conversations we couldn’t avoid. One of the biggest was about his mobility and the need for more support. Specifically,…

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Being a Parkinson’s caregiver meant carrying the weight

I was his niece, but Uncle Brandon meant much more to me. He felt like a second father. Back then, my dad worked nights as he tried to build his teaching career, so we didn’t see him much. To be honest, there was also an emotional distance. He grew up…


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