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 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…
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…
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. We traveled often before my husband, Arman, was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease in…
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 symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. I now have firsthand experience with using Botox for Parkinson’s…
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 on me so much that, figuratively, I can hardly stand up. I usually struggle in silence…
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 side in all situations. In 2009, when my husband, Arman, was diagnosed at age 38 with…
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. But I’ll do my best. For many years after my husband, Arman, was diagnosed with…
When dealing with a disease like Parkinson’s, eventually a caregiver will be needed. I suppose the politically correct term for this person is now “care partner,” at least in some circles. The latter term implies that the care is shared with the person who has the disease. The…
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