Hope in a Hopeless Place

Gibbs Garden for Mothers Day

Right before the Pandemic started, I found out that my Mom (Rama Devi) has a typical Parkinson's Disease in February 2020. She has what is called Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) which is a rare brain disorder that causes problems with movement, walking and balance, and eye movement. Finding out she has that impacted me in plethora of ways that's challenging to describe and live with. My Mom has been instrumental in my life and just seeing her condition day to day is a tough pill to swallow. As I moved across the state to be with her and help her along this journey I found myself hopeless because I know there was not a cure for Parkinson's yet. As I take her to doctors appointments and physical therapy it was grueling to see what I once saw a vibrant and audacious mother living to struggling to walk, talk and do the normal living humane things. You don't realize what a handicap person goes through until you start seeing how they live everyday and even then you still don't see some of the struggles they personally go through. Initially, it was tough just to accept that my mom has the disease and then try to cope with it was even more challenging. I saw myself change as a different person and shed tears some nights just getting her to bed and doing the daily things.

I found hope through Parkinson's Community where I was able to find other people that had similar condition. Now, most Saturday mornings I take her to Center for Movement Excellence where there is boxing for Parkinson's patients which is supposed to prolong the condition with big movement exercises. It was a sense of joy just seeing her smile and be with other people who can she relate to and be with. I felt the community accepted us and felt the love in the environment. After I take her to boxing for Parkinson's we go get an açaí bowl for me and a smoothie for her near the facility. It's these little moments that I don't take for granted anymore because it means so much just to spend time doing little things. We also sit in the park and just talk about random things. I would interview her asking her what her favorite memories of me are and what her favorite memories growing up were. In these moments I am finding hope and gratitude with my attitude.

Boxing at CFMC