Columns

I took an exciting new step in my Parkinson’s disease treatment path late last month. I moved from constant deep brain stimulation (DBS) to adaptive DBS, which recently was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Medtronic, the maker of the DBS system I have…

When my three kids were small, I was a bit overprotective. My in-laws used to laugh about how my husband, Arman, and I kept a legal pad in our firstborn’s nursery to track her feedings and diaper contents. (Yes, I know, it was over the top.) While the kids were…

Recently I got to spend time with my best friend from back home. We met in seventh grade, and it was 30 years ago this month that we graduated high school together. I don’t think either of us could’ve imagined then where we’d both end up. I live in eastern…

Even though I can still drive, I always welcome the offer of a drive somewhere by somebody else. It’s not just about the convenience but the companionship that comes with it. Usually, it’s my husband, John, but often, it’s our good friends and neighbors who step in. Their patience and…

We all age, but some of us — human or not — seem to do it a little faster. Our dog, Jax, turned 10 this year. He’s a cockapoo mix with an easy smile and a heart big enough to stretch across our entire household. For most of his life,…

Some of you may recall a recurring bit from the old David Letterman show called “Stupid Human Tricks.” The segment aired from time to time and featured people performing bizarre and downright silly party tricks — like the man who put a tarantula in his mouth and blew bubbles…

Throughout my dad’s Parkinson’s disease journey, I’ve learned a lot about his symptoms. They include facial masking, which can make it difficult for those around him to fully understand his emotional experience. Up until this week, however, I’d never heard that he might have a hard time interpreting…

I love music; I always have. I grew up with hippie parents, and my dad always blasted rock ’n’ roll on his turntable through large, black speakers. He loved classic rock, so we kids did, too. We had little choice in the matter! When I turned 16, one of the…

This spring was a soggy one in southwestern Ontario, and nobody loves the damp more than big, black carpenter ants. An army of them invaded our house, so I spent a couple weeks stepping, stomping, and trying to poison the little monsters. They were everywhere, but mostly, they loved our…

Many years ago, my dad began to lose his sense of smell. A doctor told him that it was likely because of his nasal polyps — small, noncancerous growths that can be caused by long-term inflammation. These polyps are relatively common, affecting up to 40% of the…