I recently discussed the importance of creating a solid care team to treat Parkinson’s. Expanding on that, I thought it’d be helpful to discuss a vital part of our current care plan: physical and occupational therapy. Before the pandemic, my husband, Arman, began working with a…
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
If you have ever flown on an airplane, you have likely heard the flight attendant review the safety instructions. You were probably half-listening as you settled into your tiny seat, undoubtedly sitting next to a person with a severe cough and no mask. The attendants go through all the details…
When I’m not busy writing my weekly column for Parkinson’s News Today, I’m the managing director of a small medical advocacy organization in Cleveland. In this role, I’ve learned much about our ever-changing healthcare system and the importance of having a dedicated team to manage all aspects…
“Until we can receive with an open heart, we are never really giving with an open heart. When we attach judgment to receiving help, we knowingly or unknowingly attach judgment to giving help.” — Brené Brown, “The Gifts of Imperfection” All patients with Parkinson’s disease slowly but surely…
I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to tell our story through this column, “The Bright Side.” My main goal in sharing our family’s story with the world was to help others dealing with similar situations. I also hope readers won’t feel so alone in their fight against…
Why do we often neglect our mental health? Although the term contains the word “health,” we don’t always care for the health of our minds as well as we do that of our bodies. If we’re feeling under the weather, for instance, maybe with cold or flu symptoms, we…
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 would be easier than the others. Still, the thought of another surgery brought back some difficult…
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, play baseball. As parents, our favorite activity was watching our kids enjoying their respective hobbies. As…
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. While I enjoy all four seasons for different reasons, I always look forward to the first…
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 fantastic group of friends who are just as close to us as our family. I know…
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 name a few. It may seem like once all of this is done and the surgeries…
“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 classical hero might be someone who dies in the pursuit of honor. From my perspective,…
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 we got Jake’s call: “I’m heading to the hospital.” I immediately packed a bag and hit…
Explore More Columns
Discussion
Discussion
Discussion