Columns

One afternoon, my late uncle Brandon came inside after spending some time outdoors, and something immediately felt different. Normally, he’d head straight for the refrigerator to grab a bottle of water before settling into his chair. That afternoon, though, he rounded the corner into the hallway and … stopped. He…

One evening, as I was lying in bed reading a novel, I watched my husband, Dave, out of the corner of my eye. Once again, he was having trouble getting out of bed. He couldn’t pull himself up far enough to swing his legs over the side so he could…

When my uncle Brandon came home one time from a Parkinson’s appointment, he was quieter than usual. The news wasn’t what we had hoped for. His symptoms had gotten worse, and, even though he rarely complained, our family could tell it had been a tough day. He sat…

I’ve never been much of a gun person. Perhaps that’s why it took me so long to understand the shotgun that recently found its way back to my family. My father told me it originally belonged to my grandfather Howard’s uncle, Edward Bernard Mooney. The serial number indicates it was…

I am certain that anyone who has ever heard the life-shattering words “You have Parkinson’s disease” remembers exactly where they were when their old life ended. I know I do. For me, it was July 28, 2013. That was the day my old life abruptly ended. Everything I thought I…

If, like me, you are a caregiver, you may have heard comments like these before: “Is there anything I can do?” “Let me know if you need anything.” “I am available if you need help!” Genuine offers of support are wonderful and always appreciated. It’s comforting to know that people…

A younger version of my dad lived for spontaneity. In his late teens and early 20s, he hitchhiked around the country in the spirit of adventure. One of his most significant early journeys took him from his home state of Michigan to Alaska, where he found work in a local…

The fishing aisle at Bass Pro Shops was the last place I expected to leave with a memory I’ll never forget. My Uncle Brandon and I were getting ready for one of his favorite escapes: a fishing trip. Long before Parkinson’s disease entered our lives, fishing was one of…

“I’m trying to shake it and not break it.” That was Uncle Brandon’s line. If his hands shook while he carried a plate, he would grin, say those nine words in his deep, gravelly voice, and then let out a cackle that filled the whole house. If he dropped his…

When most people hear the words “Parkinson’s disease,” typically the first thing that comes to mind is tremors. Before my husband was diagnosed, I had the misconception that a person with Parkinson’s was always a cute older man with thinning gray hair and a shaky hand. For my husband,…