For me, the most shocking aspect of becoming ill is that…it wasn’t supposed to happen! My father lived to be 96 and my mother 90. My dad had experienced several health issues during his long life (tiny stroke at 60, a mild heart attack a few years later, non-fatal case of prostate cancer) and my …
Author: Andi Brown
I was born in 1951 and raised in Providence, RI. I retired in early 2022 from a long and successful career in fund development, helping nonprofit organizations secure the resources they need to fulfill their missions.
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in July of 2021. I am attempting to box and dance the disease into submission despite being horribly uncoordinated. I'm a graduate of Colgate University and live in Brookline, MA, not too far from my adult son and daughter. When not “moving and shaking” I can frequently be found writing fiction, or with knitting needles in hand, eating chocolate.
Creepy-crawlies under my skin
“My leg feels like it’s made of wood,” I tell my friend, attempting to describe my Parkinson’s symptoms. “But is it like balsa wood?“ she inquires. “Or maybe more oak-y?” “Shut up. I’m describing a sensation in my body, not a model plane or chardonnay.” I try again. “My left thigh and calf feel heavy, …
Moving and Shaking 