"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.
"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." C.S. Lewis "Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less." Marie Curie The Naming of the Disease: Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot, considered a pioneering clinician of modern neurology, suggested …
Continue reading "World Parkinson’s Disease Day (11 April 2023)"
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style" Maya Angelou "Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive." Jamais Cascio Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic …
Continue reading "Finding Your Ikigai in the Presence of Parkinson’s"
"My actions are my only true belongings." Nhat Hanh "Today is the most important day of our lives." Nhat Hanh Introduction: There are many types of people-with-Parkinson's (PwP), different stages of progression, numerous motor and non-motor symptoms, there is early onset, and typically one is 65 years old when diagnosed. And I realize there are …
Continue reading "11 Hopeful Quotes to Support Your Life With Parkinson’s"
"Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being" Plato "Exercise: you don't have time not to" George A. Sheehan Introduction: You know what I am getting ready to say? Exercise is medicine. The verdict is out; exercise is especially beneficial for those with Parkinson's. Some form of exercise is always suitable for …
"A correct diagnosis is three-fourths the remedy." Mahatma Gandhi "The art of clinical diagnosis lies in the ability to ask the right questions." Harriet B. Braiker What is Parkinsonism? How is this different from Parkinson's? Parkinson's is a neurodegenerative disorder that destroys dopamine-producing dopaminergic neurons. As Parkinson's progresses, other brain areas are affected, leading to motor- …
"Come grow old with me. The best is yet to be." William Wordsworth "As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning." Criss Jami Introduction: Likely, everyone in the world has said the words "COVID-19 Pandemic" at some point since early 2020. From mid-February 2020 to December 2022, more than 324,000 publications …
Continue reading "10 Lessons Learned About COVID-19 and Parkinson’s"
"food is never just something to eat." Margaret Visser "your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride." Anthony Bourdain The New Year's Day Supper: Maybe your family has a New Year’s Day tradition? In the southern states of the U.S., we follow many traditions, but one of my favorites is the …
Continue reading "Journey with Parkinson’s: A Southern Good Luck Meal in the New Year"
"Don't give up. Don't ever give up." Jim Valvano "Don't give up. Reach down inside of you and you'll find something left." Bear Bryant Introduction: There are a lot of terms one could use to describe a disease. My view of this disorder is that I am locked in combat against Parkinson's. This evilness is …
"The greatest achievement is to outperform yourself." Denis Waitley "Sometimes, carrying on, just carrying on, is the superhuman achievement." Albert Camus Introduction: Have you been taking carbidopa/levodopa to treat your Parkinson's? Are you experiencing any off-on periods? Do you have any dyskinesia? Do you think it's time to change your dosing pattern or the timing …
Continue reading "A Graph of Your Daily Level of Exogenous Levodopa"
"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” William Arthur Ward "No matter what our circumstance, we can find a reason to be thankful." David Jeremiah Happy Thanksgiving: It is that time in the USA to give thanks and be grateful. Margaret Cousins said, "Appreciation …
Journey with Parkinson's 