Columns

When you live with Parkinson’s disease long enough, you start to notice a pattern: The hard days rarely begin with some dramatic crash. They start with something subtle drifting out of alignment. The step is a little shorter. The timing is a little late. The hand doesn’t want to…

It is incredible how many new things we learned during my husband Arman’s recent hospital and rehabilitation stays. While working with new therapists, nurses, and specialists, we gathered numerous tips and tricks to aid us on our journey with his Parkinson’s disease. We had a fantastic speech therapist who…

I have always been a voracious reader. I was in love with books even before I could read them, and always wanted the grown-ups to read to me. The Mr. Men and Little Miss books were an early favorite. With titles like “Little Miss Somersault” and “Mr. Nosey,”…

The setting in Sedona, Arizona, was spectacular, with pink sandstone formations surrounding the guest house where my 40-something daughter, Lynn, and I were staying for six days in September 2024. We were there to participate in a spiritual growth retreat led by a therapist I admired.  On the first day,…

Growing up, I didn’t know much about Parkinson’s disease. I’m not a doctor or a scientist. I’m just a family member who learned about Parkinson’s through real life, first by watching and later by caring for my uncle Brandon, who lived with the disease until he passed away. Before…

Well, it was bound to happen at some point, but my neurologist is moving away, and my primary care doctor is retiring. It feels like two members of my family are leaving me, and I cried with both of them when I heard. Even though I spend only a few…

My husband, David, and I married joyfully in 1981 after a year of unexpected courtship. Although we’d attended the same high school in our small town in Pennsylvania, we had not interacted, but we were aware of each other’s families. Ten years later, as young adults, we serendipitously found ourselves…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with marijuana. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. I am part of a Parkinson’s walking group that meets every Tuesday. We walk for 30 minutes, then sit down for…

If you have ever flown on an airplane, you have likely heard the flight attendant review the safety instructions. You were probably half-listening as you settled into your tiny seat, undoubtedly sitting next to a person with a severe cough and no mask. The attendants go through all the details…

The end of the holiday season and the beginning of a new year are always a time for reflection. As the first month of the year rushes past us, I wanted to pause and highlight some unexpected gifts from this holiday season. I’m fortunate to have wonderful friends and…