For many living with Parkinson’s, life can seem like an uphill battle. Doing the things you once did without a thought become challenges that can take much longer than you’d hope or expect. I’m often told by people with PD that the disease has changed their perception of time, forcing them to slow down in all aspects of their lives (a fact that some see as a blessing, especially those who once hurried through life).
Throughout my Mom’s 30-year journey with Parkinson’s, she faced and overcame many challenges, both mental and physical. Mobility was a challenge she had for many of those years, and she often had to slow down and be patient when trying to get somewhere. Fortunately, Mom was resilient and fought hard to keep her body moving as long as she could.
One of Mom’s favorite ways to keep moving was to go on walks when she was able. She especially liked being out in nature and would often set out to walk as far as her legs would take her. In this video, Mom is on one of the last walks she took at our cottage. She had been flighting PD for over 20 years at this point, and you can see her determination to keep going on the bumpy, uphill route while having to push her wheelchair for stability and balance.
In case you’re wondering about her being in a bathing suit, Mom often dressed this way as her Parkinson’s caused her to heat up a lot. You might also notice the red rash on her lower left leg – a condition called seborrhea- common in people with PD. (Though it wasn’t nice to look at, Mom was able to manage that skin annoyance pretty well).
At the very end of the video, the uphill workout starts to heat her up, so Mom pauses for a moment to take her jacket off, then continues to keep pushing along.
In what might seem to be an insignificant moment in time, this video reminds me that even when things get difficult, I need to keep pushing on. Though Mom is now gone, her resilient, determined, and hopeful spirit remains with me and keeps me going.
Whether you have Parkinson’s, or care for someone who does, I want to encourage you to KEEP PUSHING, both in your everyday moving and your mental attitude. If you need some ideas of exercises or activities that can help you fight PD, I encourage you to take a look at our book on Fighting Parkinson’s.
May you never give up the fight,
-Lianna