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.
If you are at all familiar with Parkinson’s disease, you’re probably aware of the importance of medication. It’s used for symptom control only, as there is no known cure or disease-modifying therapy for…
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My husband, Arman, has undergone several surgeries since he was diagnosed at age 38 with early-onset Parkinson’s disease. When I learned that he needed cataract surgery, I hoped that the procedure…
It was a beautiful summer night in northeastern Ohio; the sun was setting, and a warm evening breeze drifted in from Lake Erie. We had spent the last few hours watching our son, Jake,…
The weather isn’t typically on your side when you live in a place like Cleveland. But for me, having lived here most of my life, I love the climate and the change of seasons.
My husband, Arman, and I are fortunate to have family locally who are always there for us. Most of our family members live within a 10-minute drive from our home. We also have a…
There are a lot of hoops to jump through leading up to deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, such as neurocognitive testing, health insurance approvals, medical team meetings, preoperative testing, and surgery scheduling, to…
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” — Christopher Reeve A hero is typically admired for their achievements and noble qualities, while…
A few weeks ago, I was driving to see my son, Jake, at college. I’ve written before about visiting him, but this was different from my usual college visits. It was 4:45 a.m. when…
Planning a vacation or any type of trip can be exciting; it’s fun to have the calendar full of events. Our family has been fortunate to have traveled to many parts of the world.
If you thought Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) was only used to reduce wrinkles and fine lines caused by aging, think again! It’s also used to treat many types of medical conditions, including the…
I’m not typically a private person by nature. But for nearly 15 years, I’ve worked hard to hide my heavy load, to keep it tucked away from the world. Some days, this load weighs…
My family always looks for the good in every situation. We try to find the humor and the positive in times that can be hard. It’s our way of looking on the bright…
When I look back on our journey with deep brain stimulation (DBS), I wish I’d documented our experience on paper rather than the bits and pieces of memory my brain struggles to recall.
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