"Where Life Meets Parkinson's." A blog for Parkinson's education, research advances, treatment strategies, and personal reflection. The goal is to provide support and resources to anyone either with Parkinson's disease or with any neurodegenerative disorder.
“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back.” Paulo Coelho What causes …
Continue reading "Immune System and Parkinson’s (Part 1): The Brain and Immune System are Connected"
"The measure of greatness in a scientific idea is the extent to which it stimulates thought and opens up new lines of research.” Paul A.M. Dirac Start of the story: Anyone with Parkinson's is hopeful for a cure in the future. Yet, there is much we still do not understand about this neurodegenerative disorder. Scientists and physicians …
“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” Thich Nhat Hanh “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” Maya Angelou “Happiness is not a goal...it's a by-product of a life well lived.” Eleanor Roosevelt Contentment:Life is not like the typical interstate highway, smooth, …
“Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.” Winston Churchill The So-Called …
Continue reading "Stumble. Fall. Stand. Adapt. Re-Learn. Keep Going. Stay Strong!"
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow …
"Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today." Thich Nhat Hanh "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." Desmond Tutu Hope Defined: As a noun, hope is …
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning." Albert Einstein "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." Albert Einstein Teaching Undergraduates: Since 1996, I have had the privilege, honor and pleasure of teaching university undergraduates in a …
Continue reading "Students Provide Resounding Hope and Support"
"The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease." William Osler An Educator: I have had the privilege of being a medical school educator since 1987 (28 years). The work includes lecturing (to a class of 180 students), small group facilitator (36 students), course management/administration, and curriculum development …
"No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible." George Chakiris Start of the Story: Dr. James Parkinson was the first to describe (published in 1817) the condition that now bears his name. He described Parkinson’s like this: “Involuntary tremulous motion, with lessened muscular power, in parts not in action and even …
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Viktor E. Frankl The sky is still blue to me. The sun still shines bright for me. The breeze still blows through my hair. Walking …
Journey with Parkinson's 