Zoom has made facing Parkinson’s during the COVID outbreak less stressful. If the outbreak of COVID has taught us anything, it is that we can get along by ourselves but we are better together. Looking back, the pandemic began with the loss of my 11-year-old lab, and ended with the death of my father and a dear friend and mentor. My wife and I lost several friends, like most of us, due to this hard period. Thanks to Zoom and telemedicine, I was able to keep in touch with my family and friends, see my neurologist, practice my speech, Rock Steady Boxing, and offer face-to-face support for an online Parkinson’s disease support group that I contribute to.
Keeping social and trying to nourish relationships was a bumpy challenge to maintain mental health. It is apparent that technology has made the world much smaller, more intimate, and easier to congregate from all over the world. Having grown up with dial up at 300 baud, the modern technology speed has made it so convenient for me to meet friends from around the globe and interview amazing people in the Parkinson’s community. Our interview series of 18 fascinating people is a positive that came from a very dark time in my life. If you don’t take full advantage of the myriad of online events in the Parkinson’s world, I encourage you to join us.
