Our Parkinson’s Journey
We are three women with Parkinson’s, a puzzling, progressive disease. It dominates our lives by demanding 24/7 attention. Yet we believe it is possible to live a good life for many years after diagnosis. A positive attitude with curiosity, purpose, and active learning helps us respond wisely to the progression.
We are also writers who, in the spirit of Flannery O’Connor, “write to discover what we know.” We write to learn about our disease and how to confront it, live with it, and keep our sense of humor throughout. We write from the inside out, meaning that we write from the viewpoint of the Person with Parkinson’s (PWP) to share how we experience our disease. We write with respect and gratitude for the teams of medical professionals who take care of us and, of course, our families and friends.
We hope that by sharing our writing with our blog readers, we increase awareness of the lived experience of Parkinson's Disease.
Image description: Woman with a skull. Kate’s photo of a painting by Fetti ca.1618
Kate Traverse lives in Washington D.C. where she was diagnosed with early, stage one Parkinson’s during the covid pandemic. She is a poet and essayist who has published widely in academic venues and literary journals. She writes under a pseudonym.
Catherine L. Ross is a retired speech-language pathologist. Her career spanned educational, medical, clinical, and university settings. She divides her time between Wyoming and Florida and volunteers for Parkinson’s organizations. Cathy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2018.
Elizabeth (Betsy) Vierck writes frequently on a wide range of topics including aging, health delivery, health education, health spending, demographics, inflammation, arthritis, and pain. She is the author of Chronic Pain for Dummies, The Idiot’s Guide to Inflammation, The Heart Disease Handbook, Growing Old in America, and Aging America (AARP). Betsy was a long-time staff member of the US Senate Special Committee on Aging in Washington DC. Betsy began having symptoms of Parkinson's disease in 2000 and she was diagnosed in 2008.
The authors meet in Florida for a writers’ workshop.
Medical Disclaimer
We are people with Parkinson’s. We are not doctors or medical professionals. The opinions expressed here are our own. The content presented here is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical advice.