Me, an athlete?
Ever since I paired a wearable personal activity tracker with my walking sticks, I’ve more than doubled my speed and stamina. Strangers who see me clipping along stop me on the street and tell … Continue reading
Give thanks to “the village people”
Helping people with Parkinson’s disease live well longer takes a village working tirelessly towards a single goal. This Thanksgiving, on behalf of the millions whose lives have been touched by … Continue reading
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
Invest in Love
My husband, Tony, and I recently combined the formal honeymoon we never had with a private celebration of our 40th wedding anniversary. The inspirational red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, provided … 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
Gone in a blink
Sitting beside my husband witnessing the marriage of one of our youngest son’s earliest buddies, I wondered where the time had gone. In the second it takes to blink, 30 … Continue reading
An American hero, a role model for all time
Seventy-five years ago this Fourth of July weekend, New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig voluntarily bid farewell to the sport he loved. It took a progressive, incurable disease that … 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
Your help will make the difference
Halfway through Parkinson’s awareness month, it occurs to me that we are doing the same things we’ve always done and expecting different outcomes. This is as effective as banging our … Continue reading
Friends smooth our journey with Parkinson’s
If there is a bright side to living with Parkinson’s, it is the friends we make on our journey, who help us live each day to its fullest – laughing … Continue reading
Living Well with Parkinsons Disease 