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 created in that house. It was the place our three children considered home. We moved into…
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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You’re probably familiar with the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This usually refers to leaving things alone if they are working smoothly or going well. Essentially, don’t rock the boat. (Anyone remember that song?) I recently heard a conference speaker say something that sounded similar but turned…
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 assist with in-home caregiver management, care reporting, and medication and medical supply management, and I…
Stress! Life is full of it, and it’s nearly impossible to avoid. Although stress is our body’s natural reaction to dealing with a difficult situation, it doesn’t feel very natural. There are many types of stress that we encounter daily. Some stressors are considered big, such as a move, a…
I love a funny movie. Our family often rewatches our favorites over and over again. Some jokes just never get old. The more we watch, the better the punchlines become. My recipe for a perfect night includes a delicious takeout meal (Italian or Mexican fare is my personal preference) and…
I read a fantastic column on another Bionews site this week. (Bionews is the parent company of this website.) It was about how columnist Robin Stemple missed out on travels and experiences with his family because of his rare disease, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. I was amazed at…
Every single morning of my life, the sun has come up. For almost 53 years, the same sun has risen and set daily. The beautiful ball of fire in the sky tells us when to wake up and start each day. Most of the time, I don’t give it any…
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…
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…
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