Life, Lemons, and Lemonade – a Column by Lori DePorter

I recently attended a symposium titled “Shaping the Future” at the University of Delaware. The event, organized by the Johns Hopkins Udall Center, was patient-oriented, so rather than their peers, the expert speakers were addressing people with Parkinson’s. Looking around the room, I noticed that the audience included people…

We all have a fundamental desire to help our loved ones, and this is particularly true of those of us with early-onset Parkinson’s disease. Life moves along, and we try to advance with it. We are used to taking care of our responsibilities. But when we have Parkinson’s, the rules…

When Parkinson’s entered my life, it brought an uninvited guest along with it: Parkinson’s me. Parkinson’s me follows me everywhere and is part of everything I do. Most of the time, she quietly stays in the background. Other times, she is overwhelming, to the point where putting on my brave…

Medication is more than the regimen of pills we take every day. Exercise, diet, and music are lifestyle choices that are beneficial to people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). We did not choose to have Parkinson’s, but we do have a choice about how we live with and respond to…

Despite having a good rapport with my movement disorder specialists, a feeling of dread still overtakes me when I have an appointment looming in the next 48 hours. This occurs even when I don’t anticipate the day’s events being different from the last time I sat — and sat…

Although I received my diagnosis almost five years ago, people don’t usually pick up on my symptoms in everyday circumstances. I’m an advocate for exercise as medicine. I work out regularly and feel that it has helped me to delay progression of my disease. So, what should I do…

As a person with Parkinson’s, do you think hiking is a viable exercise option? If your answer is a resounding “No!” you are not alone. If someone had told me in the past that I would take up hiking, I would have had a similar response. However, keep an open…