Columns

It is disappointing that medical marijuana is not among the first line of treatments a provider suggests for Parkinson’s disease, particularly when one is using federally sponsored medical services. But that is changing. It is a new world for medical marijuana, a treatment that both patients and providers are…

“Parkinson’s? What is that? I can’t get that, I’m too young.” When I was growing up, my parents often told me I was born in the wrong decade. I had more hair than my petite frame could handle, and it often turned into a complete frizz ball. Like my friends,…

“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” – Michael J. Fox  “Love the people that have been given to you. … Love your family.” – Fr. Mike Schmitz There you have it. One quote from a celebrity and one from a Catholic priest. Both are short…

“The camaraderie between the athletes is a joy to behold sometimes, because they all help each other along.” – William Regal Exercise is an effective way to slow Parkinson’s disease progression and provide symptom relief. In 2017, I began participating in the Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) program…

I used to bound out of bed, my internal well of resources fully refreshed, ready to tackle anything the day presented. Not anymore. The old well ain’t what she used to be. With Parkinson’s disease, I don’t sleep well. Despite my best efforts, I don’t start the day with…

In a virtual classroom far, far away, the Zooming continues. As a Rock Steady Boxing coach, I conducted class via Zoom for the first time more than a year ago. Since then, our class has spent…

It is a Thursday evening when my sister asks me to come up with fake illnesses to give my dad. He has just received his first dose of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, and my sister, ever the practical jokester, wants to tease him.

When my wife and I chat with people about having Parkinson’s disease, we often hear comments like, “My brother has Parkinson’s.” Or, “My uncle had Parkinson’s.” Or, “Both of my grandfathers have Parkinson’s.” These stories are shared by medical providers, acquaintances, and co-workers. These are people outside the usual Parkinson’s…

How do I start this? What do I say?  A few years after I was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease, I went to my movement disorder specialist for my routine, three-month checkup. We chatted for a while and then he brought up the subject of work. How…

Who knew a year ago that our accessories would include face masks? We wear them to protect one another. For some of us with Parkinson’s disease, this mask protects us, but it hides another — the Parkinson’s mask. This mask is not an accessory. It’s a symptom that makes…