There is much happening in the world today that is outside of our control and then you add caring for someone with Parkinson’s Disease to the mix. While you can try to make life easier for your partner, they are still going to have “bad days” where the symptoms are more prominent or they have other aches and pains that won’t go away. You will also face situations in your daily living such as buttons that don’t work, delayed medical appointments or any number of other frustrations that can get in your way. When things get crazy and it feels like the only direction you are going is backwards, take a breath, pat yourself on the back just because, remember where you are headed and start again.

So much of what is happening with my husband is out of our control. We can exercise to slow down the progression of his illness, but he is still going to move slower and will have tremors for the rest of his life. His smile comes and goes based on what time of the day it is and he struggles to communicate when we are in a stressful environment. Our plans have to include times for napping and we always know that they may need to change based on how things are going an any particular day.

Setbacks will happen but then there will also be times when things get better. We can ride this wave together, looking for the highs as well as the lows, with the knowledge that it will settle out and we will make it through.