I learned a lot about being a CarePartner from our dog. He was a great companion and loved unconditionally. He was always present in the moment and ready to share in whatever we were doing be it a walk or a nap. When times were rough, he was close by with a lick or belly rub. He reminded me of the importance of playing every day and gave me a reason to get out and walk. His energy was infectious, and he shared it willingly. When he finally wore himself out, he stopped and rested. His life was simple, his needs basic and innate. If only I could live more like that.

As he aged, he taught me more lessons about accepting limitations and loss. Our walks were first to go when he developed arthritis in his back and hips. He no longer met us at the door as his hearing and sight were impacted. Play times were gone and he spent most of his days sleeping. When he started to lose control of bodily functions, we realized it was time for us to say goodbye, his final lesson for us. Losing him was difficult as we move through grief into acceptance and gratitude for the joy he brought into our lives. 

It may seem inappropriate to talk about our dog when writing about Parkinson’s Disease; I am not comparing, simply recognizing the contributions he made to my journey. We won’t be getting another dog now, we have a cat and our lives are busy enough without adding another pet. I am very grateful we had our time with him and for the lessons he taught me. He will be missed.