Living with Parkinson's disease coming with a list of hidden challenges, and today I want to touch on—apathy. As someone navigating this journey firsthand, I've felt the weight of apathy's silent presence, and I'm here to share my story, hoping it might shine a light for others feeling the same way.

Dystonia has to be one of my least favourite symptoms. It comes to get me in the morning sometimes at 4 AM sometimes at 7 AM. I'm trying to get up and get my daughter ready for school. It's excruciatingly painful the way I would describe it is similar to a swimmers cramp x 10 that never let’s up. It’s always there with me in the morning until my meds kick. Sometimes it's so painful I can't get up and move. And I just sit there and count the minutes until my medication can kick in.

My journey into motherhood came with an unexpected companion: Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD). This part of my story weaves through the ups and downs of pregnancy while managing a condition that was as new to me as the life I was about to bring into the world.

Discovering that a friend has been diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's Disease (YOPD) can be startling. Unlike the typical onset of Parkinson's Disease in later life, YOPD is diagnosed in individuals under the age of 50. This diagnosis brings its own unique set of challenges and adjustments, not just for the person diagnosed but for their friends and family too. Here’s how you can understand and support your friend through this journey.