The Bright Side - a Column by Jamie Askari

You’re probably familiar with the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This usually refers to leaving things alone if they are working smoothly or going well. Essentially, don’t rock the boat. (Anyone remember that song?) I recently heard a conference speaker say something that sounded similar but turned…

Some exciting changes have happened in terms of Parkinson’s medications since my husband, Arman, was diagnosed with the disease in 2009. At that time, options for long-acting or extended-release levodopa and carbidopa were limited. Over the past decade, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved several extended-release…

This winter, my husband, Arman, and I finally took a long-awaited trip to Los Angeles to visit our children. We had planned to visit them back in August, but a Parkinson’s-related fall deterred our plans. Since we canceled the trip in August, I’ve been anxiously awaiting this visit. My…

The other day, I was thumbing through a few dated and crinkled copies of Good Housekeeping while waiting for a medical appointment, trying to relax. I tried to view the wasted time as an unexpected break from life, only to realize that I might be late for a meeting scheduled…

One of my dearest friends, Jen, became a caregiver to her mom while she was barely more than a child herself. Over the many years of our friendship, I’ve gradually uncovered the pieces of her journey as a caregiver. Growing up, Jen’s family included herself, her mother, her twin brother,…

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…