The Bright Side - a Column by Jamie Askari

It is incredible how many new things we learned during my husband Arman’s recent hospital and rehabilitation stays. While working with new therapists, nurses, and specialists, we gathered numerous tips and tricks to aid us on our journey with his Parkinson’s disease. We had a fantastic speech therapist who…

If you have ever flown on an airplane, you have likely heard the flight attendant review the safety instructions. You were probably half-listening as you settled into your tiny seat, undoubtedly sitting next to a person with a severe cough and no mask. The attendants go through all the details…

It was the first snow of the season here in northeastern Ohio. In the past, at the first sign of those white flakes, we would spend the evening with our kids watching our favorite winter movie, “Elf.” But our kids are grown and living in other cities now, so it’s…

A little over 15 years ago, I started a new “job.” There was no interview, and the specific duties and time frame were unclear. Although I was probably not a very likely candidate, the job was mine, whether I liked it or not. What I knew about the job before…

I joined a caregiver support group a few years ago, and we meet monthly via Zoom. We are a group of spouses discussing the challenges of caregiving, life, and living with Parkinson’s disease. Our leader and founder is a lovely lady named Diana Dunetz. I was lucky enough to…

“Fear does not stop death. It stops life.” — Vi Keeland My husband, Arman, and I enjoy babysitting our great-nephew, who is 1 year old. We used to babysit his dad, so it’s an extra-special kind of full-circle joy for us. The sight of our great-nephew’s gummy smile, with small…

If you are at all familiar with Parkinson’s disease, you’re probably aware of the importance of medication. It’s used for symptom control only, as there is no known cure or disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson’s. Most Parkinson’s symptoms are caused by a lack of dopamine signaling in the brain.

Dear readers, I have been writing my column, “The Bright Side,” for Parkinson’s News Today for almost three years. How fast that went! I’m always amazed at how the days seem to move slowly, yet the years pass quickly. When I first agreed to write the column, I…

My husband, Arman, who lives with Parkinson’s disease, was hospitalized recently after falling and breaking multiple ribs. During his weeklong stay, we often heard a lullaby playing. I was convinced that it was the cellphone ringtone of another patient on our floor. But a few days into his…

I thought I was prepared for an emergency — until I found myself in an emergency situation and realized how unprepared I actually was. When I started writing this column, I was sitting next to my husband, Arman, in his hospital room. We arrived at the hospital at about…