Christine Scheer was diagnosed in 2015, at the age of 54, with Parkinson’s disease. She is a retired chef who lives on a farm with her husband, John, in London, Ontario, Canada. She firmly believes in the power of exercise to slow down the progression of Parkinson’s. Her hope for her column, “Living My Best Life,” is that she can get conversations started and raise awareness by engaging those in the PD community and beyond.
Getting older isn’t for sissies, my mom always said. She also said “Merry Christmas” to me in July one year and noted how everyone in her care home had gray hair (she had been…
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Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with probiotics. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy or supplement. What I’m about…
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…
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,…
“Squash the bug, Barry!” my friend Dave yelled across the boxing gym. Our other friend Barry had been on his way to get a drink of water and had frozen. When Dave shouted, Barry…
Do you ever have moments when you forget you have Parkinson’s disease? Sometimes, in those first few sleepy moments when I wake up, I feel good. Then, of course, I start to…
My husband, John, and I recently embarked on a memorable trip to the Dominican Republic. We’ve been there before, but this year was special: We’d be babysitting our 6-month-old granddaughter for part of the…
I love a good routine. Every morning, I have a cup of tea and a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, and I’ve been doing that for at least 10 years. It’s super satisfying, and…
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with deep brain stimulation. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. When I was…
This winter has been hard here in Ontario, Canada. It’s been cold, dark, and snowy. Plus, my Parkinson’s symptoms worsened, with freezing and dyskinesia happening more frequently, my balance being at an all-time low,…
“Parkinson’s is like falling in love — without the love.” I saw this quote on social media a few months ago, and it made me chuckle. I thought it would be good to…
Do you remember those early days when you were newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease? Can you think of anything someone could’ve said to make you feel better? What do you wish they would’ve…
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