Columns

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…

Family gatherings at home are often supercharged with emotion, tension, and anxiety, but I’m grateful for the time spent together. Attending these get-togethers gives us an opportunity to remember what’s most important and deepen our connections with one another. When I walked in the door of my parents’ house on…

My sister, Bev, who has stage 3 Parkinson’s disease (PD), is a Fox News and Hallmark Channel junkie. Although I tease her that Hallmark movies always have the same basic themes and storylines and that TV news is hype, Bev says watching them helps her focus and concentrate. And…

Seizures. The word conjures images of a contorted, twitching body and total loss of motor control. But that’s just one type, known as tonic-clonic seizures. According to the Mayo Clinic, “A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in your behavior, movements…

“Thanks for putting into words my experience with Parkinson’s. I’m going to share your column with my doctor.” Readers of my “Possibilities with Parkinson’s” column have often made such comments. It’s a sincere compliment, and I’m very grateful that my words resonate with others. However, I can’t help but wonder…

Spring is finally here, and when I think spring, I think baseball. Just like in baseball, where each team has a roster of players, Parkinson’s patients have their own teams of professionals in their lineup. Let me tell you about my team and its batting order. For my team, the…

In a four-part audio series for Newman Catholic Campus Ministry called “Nothing to Fear,” the Rev. Mike Schmitz delves into several elements of fear: vulnerability, rejection, inadequacy, and the future. The series led me to ask, “How do we view fear?” I believe many people see fear as something…