When my husband first received his diagnosis, it took me a while to get my head around it. I wanted to be here for him whatever that looked like but was terrified at the same time. I finally found the strength to accept what was happening to our lives and our future without really understanding what acceptance might mean. I knew that I loved him and that we had made commitments to each other. I decided to do my best to have a good life regardless of the complications PD might bring.                                               

What I didn’t realize was that accepting the diagnosis was just the first of many changes and challenges I would have to accept in my role of CarePartner. As his symptoms have progressed, thankfully at a very slow rate, my caregiving/caretaking skills have had to progress too. In other words, as his abilities decrease with time, my capabilities and capacity have to increase to meet his need for assistance. My most difficult challenge is accepting the emotional toll as I see a little less of the man I fell in love with every day.

Our lives have been going well lately, well becoming a relative term when you live with someone who has a chronic illness. If I compare my life today to that a few years ago, I would say things are not so well. The Caring Partner role I play has changed significantly and it has taken a boatload of acceptance. That is why I need to focus my energy on what is happening today and not look back to yesterday or forward to tomorrow as we continue to move along this shared Parkinson’s journey.