"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 most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering." Ben Okri “Affliction comes to us, not to make us sad but sober; not to make us sorry but wise." H.G. Wells An opening story: Many years ago, I …
"We are each on our own journey. Each of us is on our very own adventure; encountering all kinds of challenges, and the choices we make on that adventure will shape us as we go; these choices will stretch us, test us and push us to our limit; and our adventure will make us stronger …
Continue reading "Hope Resides Within the Adversity of Parkinson’s"
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." Calvin Coolidge Persistence: Besides remaining hopeful, being persistent …
“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 …
"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 …
Journey with Parkinson's 