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We didn’t stand in a long line, waiting our turn to collect the perfect life. Nor did we have a choice as to what kind of life we would be handed. We were just given a box, wrapped in paper with “Surprise” written on it. When we opened…

“Nature,” the “N” of the CHRONDI Creed, has always been a part of my life. One doctor told me, “Your strong history of exercise and nature has kept Parkinson’s at bay.” I was an avid hiker, cyclist, and rock collector in my youth. As I headed into…

Warning: The names of those involved have been excluded to protect the embarrassed. The air could sure use some cleaning out. I try to eat more fiber, but when I eat more fiber, my husband finds the air needs a good cleaning. So, I asked my doctor what…

“You will never know what someone is dealing with behind closed doors. No matter how happy someone looks, how loud their laugh is, how big their smile is, there can still be a level of hurt that is indescribable. So be kind. Even when others are not, choose…

If you’re like me, you can’t wait for the weather to warm up so you can go outside in your garden. You may be new to getting your hands in the dirt or an old hand at gardening. No matter what category you fit into, safety is always…

The “O” in the CHRONDI Creed stands for “others” — the other people around us who support, teach, and love us, and who pray and care for us. Other people can also provide a mirror that helps us to see how others perceive our actions. If we…

I started the exercise program Rock Steady Boxing about four months ago. If you’re like me, you’ve dragged your feet and refused to go for any number of reasons or excuses. Maybe there isn’t a class near you. Or, you feel too tired to go and don’t think you’ll…

I love photography, both taking and looking at pictures. I love how it causes me to see the world with a grander view. Things become more intricate, more detailed, more colorful — so much more of everything comes into focus. However, I started to panic.  My “panic…

Rehabilitation, the “R” in the CHRONDI Creed, is about the path to well-being. It is an action plan aimed at doing all that is possible to live well with a chronic disease. A well-designed rehab plan can make that journey easier. Think of a rehab plan as…

I went to the dermatologist yesterday for a skin check. Those of us who have Parkinson’s disease (PD) should make a habit of getting a yearly check because our condition increases the odds of getting skin cancer. The Mayo Clinic reported that patients with Parkinson’s “were roughly…