Columns

In my columnist profile, I describe myself as a “patient research scientist,” although I’m not a real scientist (and I’m not patient). This description probably applies to most people with neurological disorders, as we’re constantly searching for new therapies that might work. And if you’re like me, you need to…

I was only 25 years old when I learned that I was going to be a mother. Although I still felt somewhat like a child myself, I couldn’t wait to become a mommy. I dreamed about meeting my baby every night for nine months straight. Throughout each stage of my…

My husband, John, and I recently embarked on a memorable trip to the Dominican Republic. We’ve been there before, but this year was special: We’d be babysitting our 6-month-old granddaughter for part of the time and enjoying the company of her parents and the sunny and gorgeous Dominican weather. My…

While walking through the soggy streets of Belfast, Northern Ireland, I saw an excerpt of a poem by American humorist Don Herold. It read: “If I had my life to live over, I’d dare to make more mistakes next time. I’d relax; I’d limber up. I would be sillier…

In my last column, I mentioned that about a year after my diagnosis of early-onset Parkinson’s disease, I needed back surgery for a ruptured disc and a herniated disc in my lower spine. It was a harrowing experience, but I learned some important lessons. I’ve had lower back pain…

My family was feeling very helpless and alone after my husband, Arman, was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease in 2009. He was only 38 years old then, and we were left floundering for a sense of hope. Soon after his diagnosis, close friends and family members approached me…

It can be hard not to catastrophize everything that happens to you when you have an underlying chronic disease like Parkinson’s. Indeed, Parkinson’s can cause myriad symptoms. Stiffness and joint pain, gait problems, slurred speech, difficulty typing or using touch-screen technology — this disease is insidious and can…

I love a good routine. Every morning, I have a cup of tea and a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, and I’ve been doing that for at least 10 years. It’s super satisfying, and I see no reason to change it. Every night, my husband, John, and I watch “Jeopardy!”…

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…