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
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
Chance encounters offer opportunity to help
Helping other people with Parkinson’s make a positive difference in their lives often requires nothing more than being in the right place at the right time, and saying the right … 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
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
My computer mouse is out to get me
Lately, it seems my computer mouse is out to get me, much like the blood thirsty plant, Audrey II, in the classic story, Little Shop of Horrors. My mouse prefers … 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
This seat is taken!
How many of us, exhausted from running errands, have opted to wait in the car while our spouse handles the last few stops on their own? I do this often, … Continue reading
Keep fighting the good fight
Early in my journey with Parkinson’s, I drafted a list of potential motor and non-motor symptoms that I feared most. I designated the top three – dementia, hallucinations, and dyskinesia … Continue reading
Parkinson’s means always having to say, “I’m sorry”
Parkinson’s disease means always having to say, “I’m sorry.” I’m sorry I spilled my drink. I’m sorry I dropped my napkin. I’m sorry I don’t remember, I fell, I had … Continue reading
Living with Parkinson’s disease colors our world
Things happen that color the way we see the world from that day forward. Learning we have a progressive, incurable disease is one of these things. Although we have good … Continue reading
Living Well with Parkinsons Disease 