Columns

At the top of a Colorado mountain, I realize that my phone has just a single bar of service. I drop to the dusty ground, frantic to contact my dad. He’s going into surgery for deep brain stimulation (DBS) today, and I haven’t had the chance to tell him…

I had the symptoms long before the diagnosis. They started back in high school. By the age of 32, I was looking for answers, but finding the wrong ones. I didn’t find the right answer until 10 years later: Parkinson’s disease. While exploring the internet, I found Daily Strength……

The other day I did something stupid. Really stupid.  I love to putter in my garden on beautiful days. Only on this beautiful day, I crossed the line. My puttering turned into work, and before long, I was sweating bullets — shotgun-sized bullets on a 98-degree day. Yet, I…

Betty slapped George hard. There was no response, so she dialed 911. Parkinson’s disease (PD) had forced George into early retirement. He loved basking in the sun, diving into a good book, and working on his tan on their deck. Betty was in the kitchen when she saw him slumped over…

Years ago, Harrison Ford played the role of Henry Turner, the main character in the movie “Regarding Henry.” Henry’s entire world shifts when he is shot in the head during a robbery at the convenience store where he was buying cigarettes. The nearly fatal injury puts him into cardiac…

If you’ve had Parkinson’s disease for any amount of time, you’ve most likely heard that one of the symptoms is a loss of the sense of smell. You may have experienced it yourself. I pondered this reality one day and became concerned. I wasn’t bothered so much by…

Bad pain day. Trying to keep my mind distracted. Perhaps a good show is on television. Or maybe a movie. The “off” cycle will kick in within a few hours. Pain gets worse. Last medication before bed. Time to be quiet and contemplative, but the pain intrudes upon this space.

Can you believe that August is already here and ticking away even as I click the keyboard keys? Yes, Christmas is just around the corner (although that is not what I was going to say, even if Hobby Lobby already has their shelves filled to the brim with greens and…

Not all people with Parkinson’s disease experience the same symptoms. For example, I am most affected by bradykinesia, poor fine motor skills, incontinence, and fatigue. I was inspired to write this column based on my personal experiences after I read Sherri Woodbridge’s column, “What to Say to Someone with…

I get angry if he does and frustrated when he doesn’t. “He” is my husband. I am getting rather self-conscious about going out in public. Sometimes, I feel like people who don’t know me perceive me as being a little drunk because I’m off balance when I walk. …