Parkinson’s Disease is defined as a progressive disease of the nervous system marked by tremor, muscular rigidity, and slow, imprecise movement, chiefly affecting middle-aged and elderly people. It is associated with degeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain and a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

My father has this disease. He is in his early 80’s, was diagnosed six years ago, and it is progressing rapidly. Pop has difficulty standing, walking, having bowel movements, staying dry overnight, and suffers from a general fatigue. I have come to loathe Parkinson’s for what it has done and continues to do to him. Watching Pop struggle so much to do what used to be the simplest things has been so painful. Most recently, he’s really starting to slip cognitively. He struggles to remember things, and I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to reset his email password for him lately.

Soon we’re going to have to find an alternate living situation for him. Mom is his 24/7 caretaker, and she’s going to be 83 in the Spring. This is taking a huge toll on her as well. Finances are difficult, and I’m honestly not sure what we can afford at this point. It’s scary. I’ve never been in this type of situation before. My family is planning a vacation later this year, but I’m afraid of being away. I’m emotionally exhausted every single day trying to figure out what to do to help them.

At the same time, though, I am grateful for the times I get to spend with them since this all started. I feel we are closer than ever. I feel Mom and Dad are closer than ever. There are blessings if you know where to look for them. But they can be tough pills to swallow, frankly.

Have you had a parent or loved one suffer from something as they got older? Maybe you can relate to some of what I’ve said here. Or maybe you’re going through something like this now. Feel free to reach out. Don’t go it alone. I’m here for you if you need an ear. After all, what do we have if we don’t have each other?