Columns

Caregiving for a loved one is one of the most challenging, demanding, and often frustrating jobs that I can think of. My husband, Eric, and I never anticipated that I’d be his caregiver, but Parkinson’s disease changed our reality. I’ve learned that caring for someone is one of the…

When I think about the word “learning,” it conjures up vivid memories of my school days. I can picture myself riding a bright yellow school bus and covering my textbooks with folded-up brown paper bags. I often daydreamed about how great life would be when I was finally done with…

Believe it or not, I never knew until recently that Parkinson’s disease had an awareness month. But I assure you that in the nearly 12 years since my diagnosis, I am aware of Parkinson’s in April — and every other month! Parkinson’s Awareness Month starts tomorrow, while…

I don’t know about you, but I’m still having a hard time believing it’s 2025. I know we’re three months in already, but I still feel like we just unwrapped Christmas presents and embraced our loved ones while surrounded by twinkling lights. As I work to get myself into the…

“Yes, I’m bein’ followed by a moonshadow/ Moonshadow, moonshadow/ Leapin’ and hoppin’ on a moonshadow/ Moonshadow, moonshadow.” — Cat Stevens If I had to choose only one musician to listen to for the rest of my life, it’d likely be Yusuf Islam, better known as Cat Stevens. His melodies, which…

I’m not the only person in my family to have experienced Parkinson’s disease. About 25 years ago, my maternal grandfather was diagnosed with it. His was a more typical diagnosis, coming in his 70s, unlike my diagnosis, which came in my 30s. I don’t remember many of…

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, things weren’t too bad. I had a slight tremor…

In recent columns, I touched on my frustrations with clinical trials and how, as a patient, I felt out of the loop regarding meaningful research and development. Despite all my efforts to get involved, I’ve realized it’s a slow-churning, big-money system. I can’t see how I can personally make…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with deep brain stimulation surgery. Not everyone will have the same response to the procedure. Consult your doctor before considering any particular therapy or treatment. Last in a series. Read parts one, two, and three. In part three of…

March 3 marked one year since my father passed away. As I reflect on his journey, I realize how much his retirement contributed to the worsening of his Parkinson’s symptoms. In hindsight, I see that while retirement should have been a time of relaxation, it played an unexpected and…