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I love gardening. Besides writing, it is what I most enjoy. I have learned so much from digging in the dirt, whether I am planting something into freshly cultivated soil or digging up something that has recently withered away. No matter what task I do on any particular day,…

If you’ve been feeling down in the dumps lately, the solution to feeling good again might be simpler than you think. When I was pregnant with my second child, I did everything I could to have an easier labor than I did with my first one. I walked every…

Some days I just want to throw my arms up in the air and give up. We all have our crosses to bear, and I am no different. Lately, I have been challenged with some additional life stuff in addition to dealing with a progressive, incurable disease called Parkinson’s.

When we’re told we have Parkinson’s disease, we’re often taken by surprise. Sure, we may have known that something wasn’t right inside our earthly shell, but we didn’t want to face the possibilities of what it might be. So, sometimes we’ll counter a surprise Parkinson’s diagnosis by entering the world…

My Parkinson’s symptoms have gotten worse. Every day has two peak off times that I think of as “horrible.” During peak off periods, I experience the following sequence: First: Pain flares have surges up to levels 7 and 8. It can include 15 different pain locations, but only three…

Scenario: You’re sitting at a red light. The light finally turns green, but before you even have time to step on the gas pedal, the driver behind you lays on their horn, giving you a long, obnoxious blast, scaring you out of your mind. We’ve all experienced it, and we…

A parent’s diagnosis of young-onset Parkinson’s disease can affect children at at any age, particularly because the diagnosis has a profound impact on the parent. Many of these kids seem to grow up faster than their peers. Some are young enough when a parent is diagnosed that they will…

While I was home last Christmas, I had an argument with a loved one that caused tensions in the household to rise. The disagreement wasn’t with my dad, who has Parkinson’s disease. But I realized later, after speaking to him, that the situation had negatively affected him, too. In fact,…

February is now a memory. March has arrived, and with it come a slew of national appreciation and awareness days. Although I am aware that March 30 is still a full month away, I wanted to bring to your attention National Doctors’ Day, which is celebrated on that date.

March is the month that amuses us with many things, besides the infamous St. Patrick’s Day. You know, that day in the middle of the month when we dress up in green to avoid being pinched. The month is celebrated for much more than green attire, four-leaf clovers, leprechauns,…