Columns

Can there be anything beautiful in Parkinson’s disease? It’s so easy to see the ugly and clutch the feeling that all is lost. I hate to say it, but sometimes we need to experience loss to break through to another level of understanding. This certainly has been true in…

I read a fantastic column on another Bionews site this week. (Bionews is the parent company of this website.) It was about how columnist Robin Stemple missed out on travels and experiences with his family because of his rare disease, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. I was amazed at…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with deep brain stimulation. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015, I thought deep brain stimulation (DBS) was a last…

Hope can be found in unexpected places. When you’re lucky enough to find it, grab it, hold onto it, and allow it to fill your life. One of the highlights of attending the 6th World Parkinson Congress, held in early July in Barcelona, Spain, was watching the opening ceremony…

Drooling is embarrassing. I’ve caught myself spacing out with a trickle of saliva slipping out of my lips before. I can’t help but peer around the room to see if anyone noticed. I know I’m not the only one who has experienced this. My dad recently explained to me that…

When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015, I was alone. I had an appointment with the neurologist, and I never even considered bringing somebody. My husband, John, was working as a vendor at a farmers market, so I drove straight there after the appointment. He was busy…

Every single morning of my life, the sun has come up. For almost 53 years, the same sun has risen and set daily. The beautiful ball of fire in the sky tells us when to wake up and start each day. Most of the time, I don’t give it any…

I recently discussed the importance of creating a solid care team to treat Parkinson’s. Expanding on that, I thought it’d be helpful to discuss a vital part of our current care plan: physical and occupational therapy. Before the pandemic, my husband, Arman, began working with a…

My husband, John, was leaning over me and saying, “What happened?” I looked up at him and said, “Why?” What I was trying to say is, “Why did you wake me up?” But I couldn’t get the words out. Then my arms, which hadn’t tremored since my deep brain…

“Wow, look at that walk,” my older sister says with a smile. Dad is making his way across the living room in preparation for his birthday party. His steps are fluid and unbroken. It’s a sight that we savor. I love to see my dad unencumbered by his…