Parkinson’s disease is not only degenerative but incurable, which means it gets worse, to some degree, every day. While we still don’t have any proven disease-modifying treatments — those that will actually stop, reverse, and cure Parkinson’s — advances in technology have helped to control symptoms. And as I’ve…
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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One of the first symptoms I noticed before I was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease, besides a tremor in my pinky fingers, was difficulty managing a knife and fork. It’s one of those weird experiences that you can’t quite imagine until you experience it. And even when you do,…
Anniversaries can be good and bad, loving celebrations or reminders of past tragedies. For me, the anniversary of my diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease is a bit of both. It was awful and tragic and life-altering in some ways. But it’s also the day we named the monster that…
September is the most active month for hurricanes in the U.S., so it makes sense that it’s also National Preparedness Month. It’s essential to consider how you’d survive in the face of a natural disaster — be it a hurricane, flood, or wildfire — and to make plans for…
One of the most unhelpful things you can say to a Parkinson’s disease patient is, “Just relax and get comfortable.” For me, and many of my fellow Parkinson’s warriors, the idea of relaxing and being comfortable is a ship that sailed long ago. I’m almost always experiencing some level…
Parkinson’s disease can be a tricky opponent. Its path and progression, as well as the timing and nature of its symptoms, vary from person to person and can change within an individual from day to day. That can make diagnosis complex and confusing for everyone. One of the quirks…
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…
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.
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