Columns

In the fall of 1986, I worked as a chef at the Black Swan Café in London, Ontario, Canada. The café was on Richmond Street, one of the city’s busier streets for restaurants and retail. We were excited because Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion World Tour would be coming…

My father passed away in March after a long and challenging battle with Parkinson’s disease. His journey through this illness was marked by the gradual erosion of the man we once knew — a retired teacher in secondary school, renowned for his rare brilliance and innovative teaching methods, who…

As a young girl growing up in the 1970s, reading was my favorite pastime. We had no cellphones, internet, or Snapchat then, and only three TV channels via a rabbit-ear antenna. So I read a lot. I loved Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary and read almost…

Many of us readily lend a hand when a loved one, friend, or neighbor needs support, especially if it’s a one-time occurrence. These are typically straightforward things like driving them to an appointment when their car isn’t working, providing a meal when they’ve had an illness or death in the…

In 2015, during the early days of my Parkinson’s diagnosis, everything was a blur and I didn’t know where to turn. I had just started seeing a new physiotherapist whom I immediately liked and began to forge a connection with. One day, she said to me, “If you…

I remember when my kids were small and I’d hear the patter of tiny feet running toward my bedside, usually at 3 a.m. I knew the reason would be one of two things: the stomach flu or a bad dream. If it was the latter, I breathed a sigh of…

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the short phrase “PD-friendly” (PD being Parkinson’s disease). I wonder if others use this phrase. Or did I just make it up myself? At any rate, what does it mean to me to be PD-friendly? Let’s discuss. Living with Parkinson’s disease…

When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2015, I didn’t know anyone else with the disease. Then I joined Rock Steady Boxing, a program designed specifically for those of us with Parkinson’s. I’d found my people! I had read about the program and its benefits, but…

I’ve always advocated for accessibility for all. For more than 30 years, I worked and volunteered for organizations supporting and encouraging opportunities for people with disabilities. Now, as a caregiver for someone with a debilitating movement disorder that causes mobility issues, accessibility is personal and paramount. As my husband,…

“Morning, Mary Beth. Have you heard anything about weight loss and Parkinson’s?” my dad texts me one day. “From what I’ve read in the Parkinson’s News Today Forums, it seems like a mixed bag,” I respond. “Some people lose weight, and some people gain it.” This isn’t…