Living with Parkinson’s reminds me what friends are for
Recently I got to spend time with my best friend from back home. We met in seventh grade, and it was 30 years ago this month that we graduated high school together. I don’t…
The Unshakable Optimist — Mollie Lombardi
In 2013, at the age of 36, Mollie Lombardi was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Six years later, she underwent brain surgery to implant a deep brain stimulation device that now helps manage her symptoms. She writes about the challenges of young-onset PD, including working full time, travel, and navigating the joys of being a wife, daughter, auntie, sister, and friend. Her column, “The Unshakable Optimist,” is about not letting the tremors of life get you down and the benefits of a positive attitude when battling a chronic illness every day.
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Navigating difficult ‘Parky days’ that strike for no good reason
One of the most disruptive aspects of a disease like Parkinson’s is the lack of predictability, which shows up in many ways. In the long term, there is the unpredictability of how quickly…
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Celebrating my ‘stupid human tricks’ is all about staying positive
Some of you may recall a recurring bit from the old David Letterman show called “Stupid Human Tricks.” The segment aired from time to time and featured people performing bizarre and downright silly…
How my dad has supported me since my Parkinson’s diagnosis
Last month, in honor of Mother’s Day, I shared some lessons I learned from my mom that have helped me through my journey with Parkinson’s disease. This month, I wanted to share…
How I decided to disclose my Parkinson’s disease at work
When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at 36 years old, I was just reaching the acceleration curve in my career. I was somewhat known in my industry, enjoyed my job, had great…
How I get the most out of my deep brain stimulator
Almost daily I’m reminded of how fortunate I am to have had deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery to treat my Parkinson’s disease. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2013, at the age…
How artificial intelligence could improve Parkinson’s care
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is everywhere today. You hear about it on the news, at work, from your friends and family. There are stories of it being used to create everything from a sixth…
Lessons from my mom that help me in life with Parkinson’s disease
With Mother’s Day fast approaching, it makes sense that I’ve been thinking about my mom a lot. She passed away from pancreatic cancer more than 30 years ago, when I was just 17. Even…
What my ordeal with emergency back surgery taught me
In my last column, I mentioned that about a year after my diagnosis of early-onset Parkinson’s disease, I needed back surgery for a ruptured disc and a herniated disc in my lower spine.
Pay attention to signs of Parkinson’s, but don’t catastrophize
It can be hard not to catastrophize everything that happens to you when you have an underlying chronic disease like Parkinson’s. Indeed, Parkinson’s can cause myriad symptoms. Stiffness and joint pain, gait…
How you can get involved in Parkinson’s Awareness Month
Believe it or not, I never knew until recently that Parkinson’s disease had an awareness month. But I assure you that in the nearly 12 years since my diagnosis, I am aware of…
How I fear the Parkinson’s dementia my grandpa experienced
I’m not the only person in my family to have experienced Parkinson’s disease. About 25 years ago, my maternal grandfather was diagnosed with it. His was a more typical diagnosis, coming in…
My journey with deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s, part 4
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with deep brain stimulation surgery. Not everyone will have the same response to the procedure. Consult your doctor before considering any particular therapy or treatment. Last…
