Columns

In 1991, my husband, John, and I got married, quit our jobs, and cycled around the world for a year. John was an engineer and I was a chef, and we had friends who’d traveled to Australia and Asia the previous year. “Why not?” we thought. It was a fantastic…

Hello, November! With the Thanksgiving holiday nearly upon us, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’m most thankful for. As the leaves change colors and the air gets cooler, it feels like the perfect time to reflect on the past year and all of the reasons I have to…

My husband, Arman, has been dealing with a number of symptoms in his head, neck, and back due to his battle with Parkinson’s disease. These have included a stooped posture, a bent spine (called camptocormia), a drooped head, and a bend in his trunk (called…

“How could I be so stupid?” I was berating myself for buying a ridiculous book that promised to cure Parkinson’s disease. The book was one of the first purchases I made in a long line of failed attempts to feel better and take control of my life after I…

After my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, one of the most frightening parts for me was learning about the later stages of the disease. Parkinson’s is a progressive disease, and it’s hard to think about how the symptoms will worsen over time. Of course,…

When my husband was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease at age 38, I worried about the effects it would have on him and my children, but I didn’t think about the ways it would alter my own life. As a mother and wife, my priorities were…

As I sit here at 4:30 a.m. typing up this week’s column, how many of you are also up late reading Parkinson’s News Today or visiting the forums? As sleep eludes us, we chat online across different time zones and connect with others who are also managing…

I’m casually strolling through the grocery store, a simple pleasure we all took for granted before the COVID-19 lockdowns. How exciting it is to be able to be in a store again, instead of ordering groceries online and having them tossed on our doorstep. Although I love the convenience…

Every Tuesday afternoon you can see us. We might be outside at the park or, if there’s inclement weather, inside at the mall. Sometimes there are only two of us; other times, there are up to 12. It’s our Tuesday walking group for people with Parkinson’s disease. The casual…

 “Let’s play a game,” my sister, Anne Marie, suggested one balmy summer evening. Our entire family had congregated in Northern Michigan for a weeklong vacation, and we were looking to create some fun. Anne Marie explained the rules of the game: One player would read a question out…