Shaking Things Up
— Mary Beth Skylis

Over the years, I’ve found myself attracted to writing stories about the underdog. I love learning about people who come up against seemingly insurmountable odds, only to overcome them through sheer grit, ingenuity, and determination. In 2015, my first published article was about a woman who fell 45 feet…

“Mary Beth, I’ll be starting a new Parkinson’s exercise class this week,” my dad told me early one morning. Before COVID-19 hit, Dad was religiously taking Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) classes at a local facility. But the pandemic forced that particular location to close permanently, leaving my dad…

My little sister recently packed her bags and drove to Oregon, making my parents first-time empty nesters at their home in Michigan. The last of the flock has flown the coop, eager to explore everything that life has in store for her. When our family of eight gathers, there is…

“How’s your 2022 so far?” I text my dad a few days into January. “Not so good,” his message lights up my phone. “I think I have COVID.” At first, I think he’s joking. He’s always finding ways to look on the bright side of life, and sometimes doing so…

My dad and I sat quietly in the living room one early evening. The daily hustle and bustle had died down, and we were enjoying the peace of simply existing in each other’s presence. When I’m home, I like to mull over existential questions. I want to know what…

It’s a crisp January morning when my best friend and I ask each other about our superpowers. He tells me he’s as fast as lightning, which is funny because he’s a semi-pro ultra runner. I think he must be in the top 10% of speedy athletes. I slide my…

Most of us have heard about the power of gratitude. According to research, expressing a sense of gratitude can contribute to stronger relationships and heightened levels of happiness. And those who regularly express it are more likely to be optimistic about life than those who don’t. While many of…

“Mary Beth, you should write a piece about night terrors.” My dad’s text lit up my phone one morning. “Why do you feel that way? Is that something you’re struggling with?” I responded. My dad went on to explain that he’d had a few incidents where he woke up in…

Christmas is just around the corner, and I’ve started thinking about gift ideas for people with Parkinson’s, particularly my dad, who is pretty practical. He usually prefers tools to knickknacks or sentimental items. He tells me to get him socks and Channellocks, which I’m happy to do. But I also…

As a moderator for the Parkinson’s News Today Forums, I recently posed a question that’s received several surprising responses. I asked our forum members about their greatest challenge as a caregiver for someone with Parkinson’s disease (PD). I had imagined they might cite medication management, doctor appointments,…

I’m always on the hunt for different ways to find relief and even joy from what seems to be constant loss. Since my father’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, I have turned to reading books about the disease to see how others have managed the sadness that comes with this illness. Seeing…

Many Parkinson’s caregivers report seeing changes to their loved ones as the disease progresses. Some people experience more irritability. Others might see apathy. Maybe it’s just that there’s been a subtle adaptation to how they experience the world. Since my dad’s diagnosis in 2013, I’ve definitely seen changes in…

When I was a kid, my dad was always in motion. If he wasn’t hard at work in the office, he was mowing our 10-acre lawn or cleaning the chicken coop. It was only in the evening that I’d finally see him at rest when he’d pop in a video…

Hi, everyone! If we don’t know each other already, I’m Mary Beth. I’ve been working as a columnist and a forums moderator for Parkinson’s News Today for a fair amount of time now. But I’m still learning. I set out here to explore my dad’s journey with Parkinson’s…

When I stumble through the door on my recent visit home, I’m not entirely prepared for the sight that greets me. My dad looks like he’s walking through molasses, and my mom is hobbling around on a bad hip. I’d seen them both just a few months earlier. Mom’s…

It is a Thursday evening when my sister asks me to come up with fake illnesses to give my dad. He has just received his first dose of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, and my sister, ever the practical jokester, wants to tease him.