Her Deep Brain Stimulation surgery was successful, the sun shone brightly every day, and she lived happily every after… Not quite. Yes, my Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery (18 months ago) was successful and I am so very grateful for that. The sun has definitely shone brightly on some days since my DBS surgery. As…
Kindness
“Everyone you meet is facing a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” Robin Williams I once had a hospital appointment that I was quite anxious about. When I arrived, there was a security guard outside the door who told me to ring the buzzer. I rang the buzzer and waited. Then another member…
Living with Parkinson’s… 9 nine years and counting
When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s nearly nine years ago, I had no idea what my future would look like. I consider myself lucky to have access to brilliant NHS services for Parkinson’s and also great support from friends and family. Without both of these, my Parkinson’s journey would have been a much more difficult…
Lost and found
I have recently returned from a wonderful week’s holiday in the Lake District. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have a break, enjoy several walks and spend the week with an amazing group of people – friends old and new on this year’s Thinking Faith retreat at Boarbank Hall in Cumbria… I last…
Things are not always as they seem
“I can wave!” I can wave my hand! I remember feeling excited about being able to wave again, shortly after I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and started taking medication. It may seem like a little thing, but for me it was a really big deal. I had that excited feeling again, eight years later, last…
My new normal: Recharging my battery, being reunited with my orange frog and playing Scrabble with a missing tile
Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s changed me in lots of ways. At the time, I never thought I would feel ‘normal’ again, but it’s surprising how quickly we can adapt sometimes. What’s ‘normal’ anyway? I guess in this context, it’s what feels normal to each of us as individuals. Prior to my Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)…
Self Care Week – Round up and practical tips for self care
During this Self Care Week, I have been sharing some insights into self care when you have a long term condition from some friends who inspire me. We all have different conditions, but we also have a lot in common, I think most importantly, our determination to live as well as we can with our…
Self Care Week – Making every choice count
This Self Care Week, I have been sharing some insights into self care when you have a long term condition from some of my friends. So, I guess today it’s my turn… My attitude to self care is pretty much summed up in one of my early blogs – one of the important life lessons…
Self Care with friends who inspire me: Part 5 – Faith, hope and zebras
Did you know that the zebra is often a symbol for rare chronic conditions? Medical students have been taught for years “When you hear (the ‘clip-clop-clip’ of) hoofbeats behind you, don’t expect to see a zebra.” In other words, they have been taught (rightly or wrongly) to look for the more common diagnosis, not the…
Self care with friends who inspire me: Part 4 – Opening jars, coping with pain and talking about arthritis
I first met Jen in 2003 when we walked Pilgrim Cross together. Pilgrim Cross (formerly called Student Cross) is a walking pilgrimage to Walsingham during Holy Week where different groups (known as ‘legs’) walk from different places carrying a large wooden cross and arrive in Walsingham on Good Friday to celebrate Easter weekend together. Jen…
Living with Parkinson's 