This book recounts the author's experience of being diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease at the age of forty-eight and his first four years of living with this illness. With honesty and thoughtfulness, he reveals how Parkinson's has affected his life, which includes experiences of deeper and more authentic relationships; gaining new insights about time, priorities, and personal values; experiencing reconciliation with others and within himself; and benefitting from occasions for meaningful growth, greater wisdom, deeper gratitude, and lasting joy. These reflections are authentic, poignant, at times, humorous and heart-wrenching, and ultimately hopeful.
This book recounts the author's experience of being diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease at the age of forty-eight and his first four years of living with this illness. With honesty and thoughtfulness, he reveals how Parkinson's has affected his life, which includes experiences of deeper and more authentic relationships; gaining new insights about time, priorities, and personal values; experiencing reconciliation with others and within himself; and benefitting from occasions for meaningful growth, greater wisdom, deeper gratitude, and lasting joy. These reflections are authentic, poignant, at times, humorous and heart-wrenching, and ultimately hopeful.
Allan Hugh Cole Jr. is Deputy to the President for Societal Challenges and Opportunities at The University of Texas at Austin, where he is also the Bert Kruger Smith Centennial Professor in Social Work in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work and Courtesy Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the Dell Medical School. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2016 at the age of forty-eight. The author or editor of twelve books, he writes regularly for his blog, PD WISE (pdwise.com), and for other national and international outlets on living well with Parkinson's.
"Cole writes close to the heart in his personal story of living
with Parkinson's disease. . . . For those beginning their own
journey through illness, as well as those who can look back at
earlier paths traveled, this volume is likely to provide easily
accessible comfort, perspective, and hope for joy yet to be
discovered and savored. Wise readers may find themselves returning
to this book more than once."
--Karen Raphael, Professor, New York University, and person living
with Parkinson's disease
"As a young-onset Parkinson's disease (YOPD) patient myself, I
struggled in my early years living with this illness. . . . Cole's
experiences can serve the YOPD community with great impact. He
provides incredible insight and perspective as a husband, father,
educator, and friend living with Parkinson's. He has also found a
balance in bringing hope though honesty while not sugarcoating the
challenges we all face in all aspects of our lives."
--Jimmy Choi, Contestant, American Ninja Warrior, and Member,
Patient Council, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's
Research, and person living with Parkinson's disease
"As a 'PwP' (person with Parkinson's), I found Discerning the Way
both inspiring and revelatory. Cole writes with precision, grace,
and empathy. His meditations on Parkinson's . . . provide us with a
roadmap for hope, a path from darkness into light. This is a
remarkable book of deeply personal stories that open a wide window
into living well with Parkinson's."
--Eric Eyre, author of Death in Mud Lick: A Coal Country Fight
against the Drug Companies That Delivered the Opioid Epidemic, and
person living with Parkinson's disease
"The knowledge spectrum for a Parkinson specialist and researcher .
. . is a broad scope, but still interpreted and acted upon from the
perspective of the physician, no matter how empathetic. This
collection of insight, anecdote, and inspiration from an observer
so uniquely positioned reminds the health-care provider that a
completely different perspective exists--that hope, honesty,
relationships, and humor impact chronic illness as much as, or more
than, medicines and surgeries."
--William G. Ondo, physician, Director, Movement Disorders Clinic,
Houston Methodist Neurological Institute
"Parkinson's is a complicated disease that affects patients,
caregivers, and others deeply and in a variety of ways. Cole delves
into the illness with an insightful eye, one particularly focused
on the experiences of young-onset patients, to share life lessons
and perspectives that go beyond Parkinson's and apply to everyone,
whether they suffer from PD or another disease. Optimistic yet not
sugarcoating things, Cole candidly shares incredible observations
and revelations with clarity and compassion."
--Bret I. Parker, Cochair, Patient Council, The Michael J. Fox
Foundation for Parkinson's Research, and person living with
Parkinson's disease
"Cole has made a major contribution to the body of Parkinson's
literature. Cole's message is clear: life is worthwhile and there
is strength 'in removing the freight of going it alone.' His
powerful and deeply personal style of storytelling draws in the
reader in each essay with charm, wit, and insightfulness. . . .
This is an essential read for anyone with Parkinson's."
--Nina Mosier, MD, Cofounder and Director, Power for
Parkinson's
"This is a profoundly important book--deeply human, beautifully
written, and at times even poetic. . . . Cole helps us understand
the physiological and emotional daily challenges for people living
with PD, a
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