When our first daughter, Alexa (whom we call Lexy), was born in 1996, we were in our mid-20s. My husband, Arman, and I were obsessive first-time parents, documenting in detail her feedings, diaper contents, and sleep (or lack thereof) schedule. All visitors were required to scrub their hands before entering…
The Bright Side — Jamie Askari
Jamie Askari is from Cleveland, Ohio, and serves as the managing director of Premier Health Advocates, LLC, a small medical advocacy organization. Her husband, Arman, was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease in 2009, at age 38. Jamie and Arman have three grown children. She has named her column “The Bright Side” (actually, her husband named it!) because of their positive attitude regarding Parkinson’s and all aspects of their lives.
Featured Post
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…
Our family loves musical theater. My husband, Arman, and I used to go to the theater often before we had children, and we were thrilled when our kids also took an interest. Our daughters, Lexy and Mandy, were involved in local community theater productions from a young age. As a…
We vividly remember very few days in our lives, and the rest of our memories tend to blur together. I’m always amazed at how accurately I remember specific events from childhood, like witnessing my neighbor’s house burn to the ground when I was around 7 years old; I can still…
What is the best way to let your family, friends, and colleagues know that you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD)? Or any disease for that matter? When is the appropriate time? Should you wait until they start worrying about the changes they see and assume the worst?…
Sometimes I treat my husband, Arman, like a child. Actually, more like a baby. It’s not because this is my nature; quite the opposite. Although I did baby our youngest child, Jake, a bit (of course), it was only because I just loved holding on to the feeling of being…
As my husband, Arman, our son, Jake, and I arrived at our local hardware store one day many years ago, I never could’ve imagined it’d still be a vivid memory for Jake, who was 6 and is now 19. We were likely looking for tools for a fun project he’d…
When I was a college student, my eyes were opened to the world of Parkinson’s disease when our beloved Michael J. Fox was diagnosed in 1991. At only 29 years old, he was barely even an adult and in the heart of a lucrative acting career. He…
Explore More Columns
Discussion
Discussion
Discussion