Shared experiences bring us joy in life with Parkinson’s disease

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of having my entire family around me. But now that my three children are grown and living on their own, having everyone together is rare for my husband, Arman, and me.

When the kids were growing up, we planned a yearly winter vacation to the beach. It was a great break from the chilly winters of northeastern Ohio, which were filled with snow-covered roads and gray, gloomy skies. The experiences we shared and the memories we made were abundantly more important than any material things. The emotional richness of these family experiences far outweighed the value of any possessions.

These days, whenever I feel sad or hopeless or feel the strain of caring for my husband, who has early-onset Parkinson’s disease, I think back to those wonderful vacations. I can almost feel the tiny grains of sand beneath my toes and the sun’s warmth on my face. I remember Arman and our son, Jake, tossing the football on the beach while our daughters, Mandy and Lexy, basked in the sunshine, aiming to get the perfect tan.

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Since our kids are now busy with their careers and finishing their education, I wondered if we could continue our annual trips to the beach. I also worried about traveling with Parkinson’s, as that seems to get more complicated as the years go by and the disease progresses.

Thanks to the help of our family, we were able to make our trip happen again this year. We are lucky to have family members who understand the challenges of Parkinson’s and actively work to make our lives easier.

As it turned out, Cleveland was experiencing subzero temperatures during the week of our trip. Cold temperatures, ice, and snow can be dangerous for people with Parkinson’s disease, and Arman is no exception. Because of this, we felt extremely fortunate to travel to Florida and spend the week in warm weather.

Weather aside, the best part of the trip was the shared experiences with our family. A few of our kids’ friends joined us on the trip, and we enjoyed delicious dinners every night, lots of laughter, and a decent amount of wine. My sister and brother-in-law also enjoyed several big family dinners with us, which made it even more special. The joy of these shared experiences truly warmed our hearts.

Reflecting on this trip, I realize that although my children are grown, we can still travel together, make new memories, and have new experiences together. I’m filled with hope and anticipation that this will continue, that they’ll always make time to come together as a family, and that we’ll continue our beach trips every winter. The thought of future family vacations fills me with excitement and joy.

Happy memories are like a treasure box that we carry with us. No matter where life takes us, the treasures are always with us in our minds and hearts. If we’re lucky, the box gets larger with time.

I hope to continue to fill my treasure box with a lifetime of beautiful moments, warm sunshine on my skin, and love from my family and friends.

Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.