Nothing I Can’t Do: Living with Parkinson’s, One Step at a Time
Parkinson’s Awareness Month is an opportunity for me to raise awareness about the fastest-growing neurological disease on the planet, which affects 10 million people. It is the time of year when those of us living with the condition share our stories. By doing so, we build a community where no one has to feel alone while navigating this diagnosis.
My Parkinson’s Story
For me, that journey began four years ago, and it has looked very different than I ever imagined. It started with a slight tremor in my left hand—so subtle that at first, I was the only one who noticed. I initially sought help from a hand specialist, thinking it was a simple matter of muscle control. But soon, other whispers of the disease appeared during my morning walks. I realized I was tripping more often and that my left arm no longer swung naturally at my side. Worried about my balance, I finally mentioned these ‘small’ things to my GP, which led to the referral that changed everything: an appointment with a neurologist.
I was amazed at how simple the initial diagnostic tests were. Through basic movements like rapid finger and toe tapping, I was first diagnosed with Bradykinesia—a clinical way of saying my movements were becoming smaller and slower. It’s one of the four hallmarks of the disease, alongside rigidity, tremors, and balance issues.
After an MRI to rule out other possibilities, I received the news just before Christmas: I had Parkinsonism. This was a broad umbrella term, and it wasn’t until three months later, after seeing how my body responded to medication, that I received a final answer. In the PD world, the ‘Sinemet (Levodopa) trial’ is often the ‘aha!’ moment for doctors. Knowing that the Levodopa worked, my doctor could finally confirm it was indeed Parkinson’s Disease.”
It is a terrifying thing to hear a doctor say, ‘you have Parkinson’s.’ In that moment, the future suddenly looks very different. But as I’ve learned, I am far from alone in that experience. Did you know that 90,000 individuals in America are newly diagnosed each year? That’s 90,000 other people who sat in a similar chair, felt that same heavy silence, and began their own search for answers.
There is nothing that I can’t do although there are some things that I can’t do well.
It truly is frightening when you get the diagnosis that you have Parkinson’s Disease. But over the last four years, my husband and I have found our footing. One step at a time, one day at a time. While the disease isn’t curable, it isn’t fatal either. We both agree there are many worse paths we could be walking, and we’ve learned to face this together.
We work as a team, and that teamwork often plays out in our favorite place: the kitchen. We both love to cook, and we still make it a point to get in there together. Even on days when only one of us is preparing the meal, the other is usually right there hanging out, keeping the other company. It’s in those quiet, everyday moments that I’m reminded of my mantra: There is nothing I can’t do, although there are some things I can’t do as well as I once did.
As I reflect on this Parkinson’s Awareness Month, I am reminded that while the diagnosis changed our lives, it didn’t take away the joy we find in the kitchen or the strength of our partnership. My hope in sharing my story is that you feel a little less alone in yours. Whether you are the one cooking or the one hanging out in the kitchen for support, remember: we are in this together
I have a friend (a well known chef) with Parkinson’s Disease. He developed a very bad tremor, but an implant, providing deep brain stimulation, made a huge difference and changed his life for the better. It’s amazing what doctors can do!
We are all with you Karen!
Blessing to have such a good partner!
I think I’ve shared with you before, Karen, that we have a very good walking friend who was diagnosed 10 years ago. He’s still walking with us, albeit a little slower. He’s a birder so frequent stops are acceptable. Medicine is making strides and a positive attitude makes all the difference. Good to know your husband is so supportive. God bless xx
Thank you so much for being brave enough to share your personal story. Such an inspiration! Sending hugs and love to you.
I’m so glad you are finding ways to live with Parkinson’s. You and your husband have faced health challenges over the past few years and the support you show one another is an inspiration to those of us who follow you. Stay well and thanks for the update!
Great to hear that you are doing so well and hope it continues to be good.
Your courage is admirable and I applaud your view of life as it unfolds for each one of us. Since being told that the illness I have does not have a cure in 2003, I have travelled the many winding paths that those of us with a permanent illness are lead on. But with the help of our partners, loved ones and many other angles, we keep enjoying this wonderful blessing called life to the best of our abilities. Blessings be with you and may love and happiness surround you always.
You are truly an inspiration. A true blessing. Thank God your husband has recovered from his terrible fall and you are both together again. What a team.
Happy Tuesday dear friend. Take good care!
Thank you Karen for sharing your story, I know it will be encouraging for those who are walking the same path. It is an amazing blessing that your husband is so supportive in this journey and he is walking it with you. I love that you cook together, one always doing the work and the other cheering! I have a very good friend that was diagnosed 12 years ago and she is managing, knowing she can’t do everything well. Many blessings to you, dear one!
No doubt you have the right attitude! Hopefully scientists will be able to find even better medications. Best wishes.
Thank you for sharing this with us. All the best to you as you navigate the effects of the disease.
Love your positive attitude towards your diagnosis! Thank you being such a great inspiration, Karen.
Dear Karen, thank you for sharing your story. I love your positive attitude towards your diagnosis. I hope others who have Parkinson’s disease will benefit from your attitude.
It is good to hear you are doing well Karen, and I hope your husband is also much more mobile now too. How lovely that you cook together!
You are amazing, Karen – and an inspiration to so many!
Kiki
Karen, I love your attitude and hope you and your husband are doing well. I have some peripheral neuropathy from chemo and definitely get where you are coming from. Keep cooking!
Thank you Karen for sharing your story. It is great to hear how supportive your husband is. Cooking together and walking is wonderful. I have a friend who also is striving with Parkinson’s. One learns how to cope and it helps with supportive family and friends.
You are indeed an inspiration. I had no idea, but know you will make the best of it!
Karen – I am sending my warmest wishes for you to keep on coping with the dread lurgy. Methinks the personal story you have told will help many reading who may share the same problems but have not known how to come forward . . . and actually make matters easier to bear for themselves. All the very best!
Karen. Thanks for sharing. I have a dear friend who was diagnosed ten years ago at age 50. It’s a tough disease. Many blessings.
Oh Karen, you never fail yo inspire, thank you so much for your positive and encouraging attitude – and reminding the Parkinson-free people to rejoice in their health. I am 4 weeks in a nasty bout of sciatica which saw me basically bed ridden and today that I’ve finally turned a corner with the pain (yay), all I can say is hats off to you and your husband Kay🥰. Also, I am confident that the scientific community has a real interest in finding solutions (if only for big pharma🤨) – and I read just recently that apparently a concoction of vitamin Bs ‘helped’ – something to do with the gut too. 💌
Hello it’s me again, Jo from Frascati Cooking That’s Amore – and I do not know why I got to be posted as ‘anonymous’ (maybe cos I posted from my iphone instead of computer, I am the opposite of tecchie, please excuse). Anyway – I consequently came across the following article (see link) which may be of interest … https://scitechdaily.com/century-old-cleaning-chemical-linked-to-500-increased-risk-of-parkinsons-disease/
Applause to you for sharing your journey and shining a ight on something we all need to be aware of and enjoy those special moments in the kitchen.
Thank you for sharing so openly about your struggles, and successes. You’re truly an inspiration. <3
Thank you for sharing your story Karen. Spreading the word is so kind, and perhaps someone will read about your experience and seek medical help for the symptoms. Hang in there, I’m sure you can do anything!
oh jeez. Well what a beautiful post. I’ll end with a phrase I learned from watching Shrinking. Fuck Parkinsons.
I just love your mantra and its one I think applies to so very many things. Certainly to chronic and ongoing issues but also to aging in general. You have the most fabulous and inspiring attitude and I swear that’s a huge factor in coping well with physical challenges. I love that you two find your joy in the kitchen (and share some of your creations with us). It also dawns on me that this was probably going on while your husband was in the hospital and rehab and I know that had to be terribly difficult (if my mental timetable serves me accurately.) Thank you so much for sharing this.
It is so important to have the support from loved ones to help us through our lives and the challenges we both deal with as partners. Love to you my friend.
This is good news, “There is nothing I can’t do, although there are some things I can’t do as well as I once did.”
Karen, thank you for sharing your experience when dealing with Parkinson . I appreciate your openness and positive attitude. My brother was diagnosed with Parkinson a few months ago.
Sending all the best wishes to you. It’s great that you have supportive family and friends!
cheers
Sherry https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
Stay strong dear friend! There is nothing you can’t do- that is for sure! Please take care. Healthy World Cuisine
Karen, this was such a moving and generous post, you have a way of sharing something so heavy with such clarity, grace, and even a bit of quiet strength that really stays with the reader. I love how you keep coming back to the kitchen as your grounding place (like many of us food bloggers), a reminder that joy and partnership don’t disappear just because life shifts in unexpected ways. Your mantra is powerful, and honestly, it’s one a lot of us could stand to adopt. Thank you for opening the door to your experience so others feel a little less alone, it truly makes a difference.
You are amazing & inspiring, Karen.
Beautifully said, Karen. Especially the part about being a team. It can be rough going but, together, you can keep your life as it always has been.
Karen, thank you for sharing your story so openly. Wishing you strength and support as you navigate this. xxx
I love your mantra, There is nothing I can’t do, although there are some things I can’t do as well as I once did It is so valid for so many people that I am going to quote it. My mom has a friend with Parkinson’s and he sailed the Cape to Rio race one year 🙂
Thanks for sharing your journey Karen. Enjoying each day and being grateful for the little things is a big blessing. Sending love your way.
Wonderful that you are a team.. how super to cook together. What a fabulous attitude you have .. big hugs Karen
Your attitude is indeed inspiration, Karen! I’m certain you are glad you made the move to a warmer climate when you did. Just being able to take small walks outdoors all year, will be wonderful, along with your wonderful cooking. Positive thoughts! Susan from Savoring Time in the Kitchen (which hasn’t had a new post in the long while! ).
I remember what a blessing it was when you first shared your diagnosis because we had a family member who was also going through testing, and it was scary. Your story helped us help him and his family in a variety of ways we would have never thought of had you not been so courageous. We continue to lift you up and cheer you on and will forever be thankful for your bravery. Big hugs, CoCo
You do everything with such grace. There is no doubt in my mind that grace will provide you with the strength to get through this. And I have no doubt you are feeding yourself well!
Beautifully written. It’s not easy to face life’s ups and downs. But you do it with such grace and strength.
I came to see how you’re doing, having asked the question.
Thanks for sharing this development in your life with us.
I have two friends living with Parkinson’s and so I ended up trying to find out as much as I could about it.
The search led me to the Beech Band (works splendidly for some but not everyone). What I also learned is that there is much research being done and more poromising treatments/devices being developed.
In the meantime, I’m glad you have such a constructive attitude, Karen. It’s an inspiration.
Sending a big hug.
Karen, I admire your positive attitude for facing this condition. Your husband is wonderful by being your team mate. You’ve been through a lot! Parkinsons runs in my family lineage beginning with my grandfather and now my cousin. Having a loving companion is so helpful. Currently, I am disabled with both a bad knee and hip, and awaiting surgery. So I understand the value of a loving partner to help us. I have not been cooking because I cannot stand anymore and truly miss it. Cooking is a joy and therapy too. I’m glad that both of you can be in the kitchen together and enjoy cooking. Blessings to both of you.