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Becoming a grandparent while I have young-onset Parkinson’s disease is a milestone, and life with Parkinson’s is all about celebrating one day, one goal, and one milestone at a time. Diagnosed at 45, I prayed to God to help me be a good mom and, eventually, a fun…

When Diana Dunetz’s husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, she didn’t know what to think. First, there was denial. How could something like this happen to her husband? Then there was apathy, and after that, loneliness, which came unannounced and was brutal in its ferocity. “I found…

My family always looks for the good in every situation. We try to find the humor and the positive in times that can be hard. It’s our way of looking on the bright side in all situations. In 2009, when my husband, Arman, was diagnosed at age 38 with…

You can’t walk around with a doctor in one pocket and a therapist in the other. In fact, you can’t even walk around with your hands in your pockets if you have Parkinson’s disease because you need them to prevent you from bumping into things and falling. Nobody…

When I look back on our journey with deep brain stimulation (DBS), I wish I’d documented our experience on paper rather than the bits and pieces of memory my brain struggles to recall. But I’ll do my best. For many years after my husband, Arman, was diagnosed with…

When Barbara Salsberg Mathews moved, the world moved with her. Barbara is an artist, mother, and Parkinson’s disease (PD) patient and advocate on a journey she calls “A Shaky Start.” She uses dance and her experience as a professional mime to manage her symptoms. Barbara unexpectedly…

I loved the 2017 documentary “The Center Will Not Hold,”about the journalist, essayist, and author Joan Didion. She was a wonderful example of how one can make it to age 87 with Parkinson’s disease and still have a good life. I personally found it hopeful, as I could…

When dealing with a disease like Parkinson’s, eventually a caregiver will be needed. I suppose the politically correct term for this person is now “care partner,” at least in some circles. The latter term implies that the care is shared with the person who has the disease. The…

Brain wave research has the potential to improve management of Parkinson’s disease because beta wave bursts have been linked to the condition. Beta waves are generated when the mind is active and engaged, often accompanying vital fundamental behaviors such as attention, sensation, and motion, which are associated with…

Opening up about a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is a personal and complicated decision. While some share the diagnosis immediately with friends, family, and colleagues, it’s common for people with Parkinson’s to conceal their condition, often for months or even years. Even actor Michael J. Fox waited…