Welcome to my blog!

I have been asked numerous times how I overcome the adversity of Parkinson's. Plain and simply, I don't know. It's just my life.

When the neurologist told me I had Young-Onset Parkinson's Disease, I stood in complete disbelief. I had just turned 29, and this certainly was not on my life goals list. I can't say it's been a walk in the park since that moment 22 years ago, but rather a walk with PARK. As hard as it's been, I refuse to let the challenges surrounding the illness overpower the joy in my life.

Writing helps me do that: stay grounded and find joy. I use writing as my outlet; once I've written about something that has been bothering me, I can let it go. Writing grants me a modicum of strength and power over a disease that controls my body.

I hope that this blog can help others see the realities of this illness through the eyes of an ordinary person. I think most people have heard of Parkinson's, but may not have a clear understanding of it. I want to show people that life after a Parkinson's diagnosis is completely possible. That said, each case of Parkinson's is different, though, and I can only speak to my own experiences from the past 22 years.

Parkinson's can be quite isolating - both to those diagnosed with it as well as those who care for a loved one afflicted with it. Understanding and support are necessities. I would not have made it through the last two decades without the steadfast love of my husband and daughters. They continue to rally behind me each and every day, despite not being able to fully understand what it is like to live in my body. Sometimes, though, they can see me and remind me of who I am when all I can see is Parkinson's.

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So let us tell you about her instead!

Elaine is many things - a mother, a wife, a veterinarian, a sister, a cool person, a friend. But you don’t need us to tell you that. She is our mom.

She is the biggest supporter of my trumpet playing and music career. She never misses a concert I perform in (which is a lot since I’m in college for music), and even when I think I played horribly, she’ll always say I sounded great and point out her favorite moments.

She’s willing to listen to anything I talk about, whether that be the same rowing story for the eighth time or the intricacies in the intermolecular forces behind ice melting.

She is the person who stays on the phone with me until 2:30 in the morning when I’m in a bad place, and the person who instilled in me a love of animals so great that living without a pet feels nearly impossible. (She even let me steal the posters of dogs and cats out of her veterinary journals when I was a kid.)

Mom always chuckles at my jokes no matter how awful they are. She makes me feel like the FUNNIEST person on the planet. In fact, one time her phone number was being used by a scammer and angry people started calling her. She made my all time favorite joke as her voice mail (but you will have to ask her about the story and the joke yourself).

The woman knows her crosswords. She completes the crossword in the newspaper every day without fail. I’m not sure what obscure knowledge she’s learned from them, but I can only imagine it’s enough to land her a spot on Jeopardy.

So whether she’s in the audience for a concert or regatta, lending a listening ear, laughing at a joke, or kicking butt on Jeopardy with her crossword knowledge, she’s always our mom. Parkinson’s doesn’t change that.

- Andrea, Stefanie, Kate, Monica, & Emily

**A big thank you to my sister, Cheryl, who edits my blogs before I share them with you. She gets credit for the final, polished versions.

Elaine