Columns

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with levodopa. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. I live my life in borrowed moments. These are times when my body works, my mind is clear, and I can almost…

There’s a moment that many Parkinson’s families encounter at some point. Maybe they’re on the road with a loved one with Parkinson’s who is driving, and they notice slight swerving over the center lane, as I did a few years ago with my dad. Or maybe the moment happens…

Faith has always been at the center of my family’s life. As I grew up, I saw my family face tough times, believing that God would help us through. Strength, prayer, perseverance, and trust in God were just part of our daily lives. So, when my uncle Brandon was diagnosed…

My birthday is this month, and I’m turning 49. I’m not doing anything particularly exciting to celebrate, just dinner with some friends and my husband. Low-key birthdays are fine by me, but it is a big deal to be entering the last year of my 40s. I started this decade…

I’m training for a 5K race in June. The training plan is taped onto the fridge door, and I’m following it to a T. Except for the part where it says “run” — that’s where I alternate walking and running for one minute each. This method makes a 5K totally…

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.

Parkinson’s disease is an illness that slowly progresses every day. Symptoms change, medication side effects vary, falls happen, and there is always an element of the unknown. Because of this, caring for a person with Parkinson’s also changes every day. As soon as I think I have…

A vanity isn’t just for the vain. If any of you are like me and watch a lot of home improvement shows, you probably have some bathroom envy. My house was built in the 1970s, and our primary bathroom is definitely a “before,” not an “after,” when it comes to…

Connecticut-based Steve Yellen was a weekend athlete before he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease seven years ago. He first noticed a tremor in his left hand. Then he saw a neurologist, who confirmed the diagnosis. Instead of succumbing to apathy, Yellen decided to do everything in his power…

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,…