A-Way-Through

Caretaking for Parkinson’s is a life we courageously live; finding our way through to a life we love—is what we consciously choose to create.

Conventional Medicine Conversation

Please Join the Adventure https://open.substack.com/pub/michelleterrillheath/p/conventional-medicine-conversation?r=2q64gc&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true My hope is that the conversations MAY inspire you to comment, critique and share your thoughts on this platform. More people piping in creates a stronger place for all of us and will lead us closer to true discovery about […]

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Tip #3 Using Structure to Manage Time and Anger

Andy was not a tyrant by nature but his illness made his continuous needs and requests of me feel tyrannical. When Andy’s abilities were being challenged and compromised by his disease, I was therehelping with everything as it came up. Unintentionally we became caught in […]

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People Will Ask Awkward Questions

I’d say again, “He’s doing fine.” I learned that part of being a caregiver was becoming the spokesperson for the patient. Of course, sometimes that made sense and flowed easily, but often being asked countless times to give updates about the one you are caring […]

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Ten Tips for Caregivers

Our experiences have led us to explore various healing practices that not only supported Andy but also benefited me as his caregiver.  As a reluctant caregiver for my extremely disabled husband, Andy, for almost seven years, I experienced firsthand the intense demands and emotional toll […]

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Taking Another Step

Dad is looking at our Mom’s face as she takes the photo. He is breathing with one transplanted new lung as he begins his new life. Last week, I shared what was entailed in writing my book, Your Wildest Dreams: A Parkinson’s Love Story. I […]

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Writing My Book: Your Wildest Dreams

I write by hand on lined notepads and I happen to be left handed which I always considered to be a good omen. It wasn’t hard to write Your Wildest Dreams: A Parkinson’s Love Story, but it took a really long time and that could […]

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What Gives Meaning to a Life Getting Smaller?

Years ago, Andy and I sold something we called Spirit Lifters. They were small plaques for one’s wall or desk that we made with a decorative welded bronze mandala paired with a quote done in calligraphy.  One of the quotes we used was from Joseph […]

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Honest or Nice?

One of the amazing aspects I’ve experienced as a caregiver choosing honesty over being nice, is that honesty with a purpose leads us back to being nice. In a life without a chronic disease challenge and in relationships that don’t require a caregiver role, I […]

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Anger After Feelings of Unfairness

 When one is a caregiver ‘making it right’ is different from actually changing the situation that is unfair into one that is fair. I wondered, “How does one deal with the anger that can happen in a patient/caregiver relationship when feeling like life isn’t fair?” […]

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Cultivating a Garden Rather Than Building a Blueprint

Our garden has always been our work in progress and so it is with my own healing. I’m getting there. I have to do a bit every day and only pay attention to my own timing. When I hurt myself in a pretty awful skiing […]

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