Mary Beth Skylis

Last month, Jamie Askari wrote about embracing optimism despite the constant challenges that Parkinsons provides. As a caregiver, she knows how difficult it can be to stay positive in the face of the disease. But she also thinks that optimism is a key part of staying grounded. 

How do you manage to stay optimistic? Do you ever try to re-frame…[Read more]

My dad has always been easy to navigate different social scenes. He fits in just about everywhere. But as Parkinson’s progresses, I think he’s come to prefer more introverted settings. I suspect that he always identified as an introvert, and that he just leaned more into his tendencies recently. But I’d love to hear about your exp…[Read more]

Last year, I came upon a few different adaptive clothing brands. They provided shirts that are easier to close than conventional shirts. They also have pants with magnetic closures and slip on shoes that look like they’re laced. After trying a few different products, my dad quickly became a fan of the shoes. He loved the look, support, and s…[Read more]

I recently wrote an article about my dad’s Parkinson’s journey. In it, I discussed some of the things that changed after he underwent DBS. He halved his medication doses. His off-period dyskinesia almost disappeared. And he put on about 20 pounds (which he needed to do). 

If you’ve undergone DBS, I’d love to hear more about your experien…[Read more]