Celebrating life’s milestones with a cause
I met my friend Claudia when she was passionately encouraging others to take part in Parkinson’s research and clinical trials. “When they see a middle-aged woman, mother and wife participating … Continue reading
Courage and team work help us conquer our fears
Courage took center stage at Chicago’s inaugural Partners in Parkinson’s (PiP) event, sponsored by the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Abbvie. Not the kind of courage that roars, but the … Continue reading
Who says physical therapy can’t be fun?
My physical therapist suggested we have a “play date” at my house so she could evaluate how well I was mastering my virtual reality-based sports games and home exercises. As … Continue reading
Achieving new personal bests in Walk-A-Thon rekindled my inner spirit
Achieving new “personal bests” in speed and distance for the 2014 APDA Midwest Chapter Walk-a-Thon sparked a flame that rekindled my inner spirit. This annual event is one of my … Continue reading
Walking to the beat
As much as I resisted using a walking aid, it was love at first try for my aluminum walking sticks, which are the perfect complement to my bionic knees. I … Continue reading
“Your Stamina Sucks”
“Sheryl’s stamina sucks.” These were the exact words my physical therapist wrote on my reevaluation form. She drew a grumpy face for added emphasis. “I hope that’s a new medical … Continue reading
Talk of using walker abruptly ends PD honeymoon
My 15-year honeymoon with Parkinson’s disease ended unexpectedly when my new physical therapist, Mia, completed a three-hour evaluation and recommended I start using a walker. Her words hit me like … Continue reading
Always wear clean underwear
Getting dressed takes longer and longer as Parkinson’s disease progresses, prompting us to continually seek ways to shave a few minutes off the process. This is why I wear my … Continue reading
Lame excuses for not exercising
According to the National Health Research Institute in Taiwan just “15 minutes of exercise a day, or about 90 minutes a week, can add years to your life.” Now they … Continue reading
