Wouldn’t it be nice if whenever you woke up in the morning there was a message saying today will be just fine or today is going to really be tough? Then, we could decide before getting out of bed which persona to embrace in our daily battle with PD, calm and loving partner or fierce warrior caregiver. (Personally, I find that I am most often having to mix the two.)

We have those days when everything is going right. My husband’s symptoms are under control, the sun is shining on us and life is going well. Then, the next day, neither one of us wants to get out of bed. We are tired, achy and the thought of facing the world is just too much. We are learning that those are the mornings when we most need to cuddle. I roll over into his arms and we may drift back to sleep for a few minutes or maybe we’ll talk about what the day has in store for us. Connecting for just a few minutes and sharing in the challenges we are feeling gives us the strength to get up and get going in our daily battle with Parkinson’s.

The biggest thing to remember is that whether you are celebrating or just surviving, you are doing it side by side with your partner. The battle should never be between the two of you but should always be shared as you follow the pathway you are forging through PD.