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.
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.
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I may be overprotective, but it’s progress, not perfection
When my three kids were small, I was a bit overprotective. My in-laws used to laugh about how my husband, Arman, and I kept a legal pad in our firstborn’s nursery to track her…
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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…
We’re trying vitamin B1 for help in treating Parkinson’s disease
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with vitamin B1, as well as other supplements and treatments. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping…
Shaving safely is the latest challenge while living with Parkinson’s
Here is a riddle for you: “How do people with Parkinson’s disease shave?” “Very carefully!” Not long after my husband Arman’s diagnosis of early-onset Parkinson’s disease in 2009, it was clear…
Moving to a new home helps us prioritize safety with Parkinson’s
My husband, Arman, and I spent almost 20 years of our married life in one house. Before that, we moved several times during his medical training, but the majority of our family memories were…
What is palliative care, and should we consider it for Parkinson’s?
When I am not writing my column for Parkinson’s News Today, I work for a small healthcare company. One of my favorite parts of the job is coordinating care for clients. I…
