An unsettling introduction to my husband’s Parkinson’s night terrors
I’ve never been much of a morning person. I’m usually pretty moody and cranky when I wake up early. Once our kids were old enough to sleep in on the weekends, I’d often enjoy…
The Bright Side — Jamie Askari
Jamie E. 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 young-onset Parkinson’s disease in 2009, at age 38. Jamie and Arman have three grown children: Lexy, who is an attorney; Mandy, who is a dietitian; and Jake, who is an undergraduate student studying finance. She has named her column “The Bright Side” (actually, her husband named it!) because of their positive attitude regarding Parkinson’s and all other things in their life.
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Getting involved in fundraising for Parkinson’s was deeply satisfying
My family was feeling very helpless and alone after my husband, Arman, was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease in 2009. He was only 38 years old then, and we were left floundering for…
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Turning struggles into strengths while living with Parkinson’s
Every person and family is dealt a deck of cards in their lifetime. Some of them may be in perfect order and the cards in pristine condition without a crease or a bend. Other…
How I fully commit to my role as a Parkinson’s family caregiver
About a year or so after my husband, Arman, was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease, we were attending a party. I remember an acquaintance asking me that night, “Why don’t you ever…
Managing Parkinson’s medications is often a juggling act
Some days when I look at our bathroom closet, it resembles a miniature pharmacy. While my husband, Arman, takes significantly fewer oral medications since his deep brain stimulation surgery in 2017, he…
When Parkinson’s didn’t stop our Anne Frank House tour
Some of life’s greatest blessings are the ones we don’t even notice. For instance, I’m typically unaware of how natural it is for me to walk, talk, and get myself dressed and fed.
How my volunteering benefits others and my life as a caregiver
“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” — humorist and poet Sam Levenson, though often quoted by (and…
The value of in-person Parkinson’s caregiver support
Having been born and raised in Cleveland, I’m accustomed to living in a city with top-notch healthcare. This didn’t mean much to me as a child and as a young adult, because I was…
Changing my mindset to weather the storm of Parkinson’s
Early-onset Parkinson’s disease entered my life almost 15 years ago. My husband, Arman, who was in his late 30s at the time, had been showing some strange warning signs that his body…
I feel thankful every day, despite the challenges of Parkinson’s
Hello, November! With the Thanksgiving holiday nearly upon us, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’m most thankful for. As the leaves change colors and the air gets cooler, it feels like the…
Giving Botox another try to relieve Parkinson’s symptoms
My husband, Arman, has been dealing with a number of symptoms in his head, neck, and back due to his battle with Parkinson’s disease. These have included a stooped posture, a…
Parkinson’s disease forced my husband and me to switch roles
When my husband was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease at age 38, I worried about the effects it would have on him and my children, but I didn’t think about…
I’m uncomfortable with questions about my husband’s Parkinson’s
I’m casually strolling through the grocery store, a simple pleasure we all took for granted before the COVID-19 lockdowns. How exciting it is to be able to be in a store again, instead…
