Adult Creative Nonfiction This is the story of the adventurous life embraced by Andy and Michelle Heath. I’ve written a creative nonfiction book that chronicles how the extraordinary life we lived before Parkinson’s, informed, inspired and made possible our successful approach to living with Parkinson’s. […]
A diagnosis of disease causes a time of upheaval that corresponds in intensity to a relationship ending, an accident causing death or disability, the surprise ending of a job, and losing one’s home from a disaster. In picturing these difficult scenarios, it is apparent that there must be a period of time to absorb the shock and process the new information […]
A diagnosis is a naming of something going on. Usually, a person can tell when something is not right with them. Usually, but not always. There are countless fairy tales, stories and mythology from the beginning of time that show us the importance knowing a name can have. From Rumpelstiltskin to Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea Trilogy, stories tell us that a name has power […]
After a new treatment all but eliminated the symptoms of Andy’s Parkinson’s Disease, he experienced an unexpected and heartbreaking side effect. Andy’s wife, Michelle, shares the story of Andy’s journey – and how Marco Polo helped him reconnect with the people he loved. My husband, […]
In the last video, I was encouraging you to find other people who have had health success in the face of a terrible diagnosis. It is important to find those stories and to remember, “If they could do it, then so could I.” This is different than so you will! Each of us has our own destiny and road to travel in life, and as meaningful as role models and positive examples are, they do not certainly show exactly what your experience will be […]
We left off in the initial stages of suspending all the ideas about what is going to happen, now that an incurable disease has been pronounced. It takes concentration to consciously let go of all the difficult horrible possibilities that naturally flow to mind after being told the bad news.
When Andy was told he had Parkinson’s disease and that his life would go downhill from now on {…}
