My husband reads these blog entries before I post them. I think of him as my editor, but I also want to make sure that I am not sharing things about him without his knowledge and okay. Admittedly, there have been some entries that we had to talk about before I posted them. I really try to stay focused on my journey and, when talking about his challenges, try to keep it on how those things impact me. 

When we first started on this new part of our lives over a decade ago, one of the first things I did was to seek out a co-worker whose father had PD. She understood my fears and listened as I spoke of the uncertainties we were facing. I learned then just how important it would be for me to have other people to talk to for support as I faced the changes his diagnosis would bring.

I have found support groups, personal friends, family members who have helped me as I continue to adapt to the daily challenges of being a CarePartner. I am careful when speaking about what is happening to us and always to come at it from the perspective of the role I play. It is not for me to openly discuss the PD symptoms that interfere with his daily activities, that is his story to tell. How I deal with the emotional and physical toll of being a CarePartner, that is mine.