Columns

Some of my earliest memories of my dad depict him like a superhero — the guy who would work all day before coming home and tossing his kids over his shoulder. He had a vitality that practically swirled with enthusiasm. After work, he could be found at the latest theater…

My Uncle Brandon could have a few pieces of chicken and a room full of people and still ask, “Y’all want some?” Never mind that there wasn’t enough chicken to feed everybody. If he was eating, chances were he was going to offer you some. Food was something to enjoy…

The diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease threw open soul-searching questions in my dad, Jack, that I was unaware of. However, his probing became apparent when I was donating books to the library. My mom gave me a small box from my dad, who was no longer able to read because…

The possibility of Parkinson’s psychosis can bring fear and uncertainty. Columnist Doc Irish reflects on how understanding the brain’s role in perception helps him find peace and a sense of agency.

“Get out of this car. Get in this house and sit down somewhere.” More than a decade later, I can still hear Uncle Brandon’s voice. I also remember the hard smack against the hood of my car that made me look up. There stood my uncle, staring at me as…

A couple thousand years ago, the Greek mathematician Archimedes reportedly made one of the boldest claims in human history: “Give me a place to stand, and a lever long enough, and I will move the world.” I love that. Not because Archimedes was particularly good at moving planets. As far…

Parkinson’s disease can cause a wide variety of symptoms, from losing your sense of smell to having terrible gait issues that result in multiple falls a day. And they don’t happen in any particular order. It’s not like you can say, “OK, now I’m going to tremor for two…

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine took a serious fall while riding a Onewheel around an obstacle course. While lying on the ground, he felt a head-splitting pain. An MRI showed that he had torn his rotator cuff and needed surgery. Before long, I was ushering him to…

I couldn’t tell you the name of the medication today. But more than a decade later, I can still remember the sound of Uncle Brandon flushing it down the toilet. It was a newer medication his doctor had prescribed for his Parkinson’s disease, and Uncle Brandon hated it. He…

Oh boy, where did the summer go? The past few weeks have passed at what feels like warp speed. Lately, everything reminds me to keep pushing, not give up, and remember that hope lives right here with us. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015, and in 2021,…