I achieved a major accomplishment recently. Not only did I ride in a boat, but I was also able to use the tiny, foldable swim ladder off the back of the boat to go swimming — and I didn’t hurt myself. To an average person, this may not seem like…
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.
Featured Post
This year, I’m celebrating Parkinson’s Awareness Month by saying, “F— Parkinson’s!” If you watch the Apple TV show “Shrinking,” you’ll get exactly what I mean. The show features a group of multigenerational friends, three of whom work together at a psychiatrist’s office. (Get it? “Shrinking?”) Harrison Ford plays…
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with various medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. You know how when professional wrestlers or politicians take the stage, they’ll often play…
I’ve always tried to be a pleasant enough person. Polite to strangers, going with the flow, trying to be kind when I can. But three things can cause me to lose my pleasing personality: being hungry, hot, and tired. And hot has always been the worst, because it’s harder to…
I took an exciting new step in my Parkinson’s disease treatment path late last month. I moved from constant deep brain stimulation (DBS) to adaptive DBS, which recently was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Medtronic, the maker of the DBS system I have…
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 think either of us could’ve imagined then where we’d both end up. I live in eastern…
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 party tricks — like the man who put a tarantula in his mouth and blew bubbles…
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 a bit about my dad and the journey we both went through when I was diagnosed.
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 colleagues, and traveled the world meeting with clients and speaking to groups of people. For most…
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 of 36. In the fall of 2019, I had DBS surgery. My life has been…
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 grader’s essay to a doctoral thesis. I’m using a tool with AI right now to write…
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 though that was long before I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, she taught me many…
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. It was a harrowing experience, but I learned some important lessons. I’ve had lower back pain…
Explore More Columns
Discussion
Discussion
Discussion