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I don’t think feeling like a burden is that uncommon when we’re struggling. I’ve felt this way before. Even though I needed help, I didn’t want anyone to have to adjust their lives to help me. Asking for help makes me feel like I’m taxing to those I love. And…

Have you ever decided to work on a personal project or settled down just to relax, ready to welcome the time alone? If you’re a list-maker like me, you’ve carefully gone over your to-do list and checked every item off. Then, suddenly, it happens — the interruption. Aargh! Someone texts…

There are days when I feel miserable. They run together like the constant pounding of ocean waves, shaking me with constant pain. The misery is not only in my body, but also my mind — a world of exaggerated pain signal perceptions that defines too much of my life. The…

I recalled the popular adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words” when a Parkinson Secrets blog post appeared on my Twitter feed. Titled “How LEGO became a tool to teach Parkinson’s: A father and daughter journey,” the post includes an interview with Dr. Jonny Acheson, who serves…

The Parkinson’s diagnosis came as a shock, even for me — and I wasn’t the one receiving it. My dad received the news of his diagnosis nearly 10 years ago. Like most of my family, I remained in denial, assuming that doctors had gotten it wrong, based on my…

As I write this, I am feeling impatient, frustrated, anxious, and a bit concerned. The source of my anxiety and concern relates to my sister Bev and her Parkinson’s disease (PD). Bev was diagnosed in 2017 and currently has stage 3 Parkinson’s. I’m concerned because she thinks her disease…

If a casual observer were to take a snapshot of my life, they would see a gray-haired guy sitting down while his partner scurries about doing house chores and computer work. But looks can be deceiving because I am using my Parkinson’s self-management toolkit. My past work designing rehab…

As a resident of Arizona, in the Valley of the Sun, as the Phoenix metro area is known, I am familiar with how quickly one can become dehydrated. Scorching summertime desert temperatures can spike above 100 degrees, prompting residents to reach for water frequently, and making Arizona one of the…

“I’m nervous about this conference trip,” I said to Mrs. Dr. C. “We just moved into our new home and don’t have phones hooked up. What if something happens while I’m away?” With a smile, Mrs. Dr. C responded, “I’m a strong New England woman. I’ll be OK. You have…

“Sometimes life seems a dark tunnel with no light at the end, but if you just keep moving forward, you will end up in a better place.” — Jeffrey Fry Would you say that living with Parkinson’s disease is like being in a really long tunnel? Sometimes the journey…