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Little things can sometimes make a big impact when life happens and fate changes our plans. Everything is constantly changing — including my looks. During a recent conversation about permanent makeup, I announced, “I miss eyeliner and mascara.” Seeing the perplexed look on the faces of those around…

If you thought Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) was only used to reduce wrinkles and fine lines caused by aging, think again! It’s also used to treat many types of medical conditions, including the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. I now have firsthand experience with using Botox for Parkinson’s…

I’m not typically a private person by nature. But for nearly 15 years, I’ve worked hard to hide my heavy load, to keep it tucked away from the world. Some days, this load weighs on me so much that, figuratively, I can hardly stand up. I usually struggle in silence…

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…