My husband doesn’t stumble on purpose, he doesn’t shake because he wants to, and he certainly doesn’t enjoy taking medication six times a day. He didn’t ask for the rigidity or the challenges he faces when trying to communicate. He wouldn’t have given up driving or the chores he did around our home unless it was absolutely necessary. He did not ask to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and I cannot blame him for the changes it brings to our lives.

Yes, I do get frustrated at times when I am waiting for him to do something or just move to get out of my way. Yes, unkind and even harsh words come out of my mouth and I immediately regret them because I know he can’t help being slow or stiff. It is easy to direct my anger at the person standing in front of me rather than the disease that causes his neurons to misfire, but it isn’t fair.

Recognizing the challenges that this diagnosis creates without placing blame includes understanding and accepting that my life is going to change. I can make choices about how much it will change, but must also acknowledge that PD is a shared journey. I loved my husband before his diagnosis and that is the one thing that won’t change. Accepting new challenges doesn’t mean I am giving up on my life, it simply means I am opening my heart to share a different pathway that can be just as fulfilling if I let it.