Stealth Wobble
The weekly round up
Hello lovelies,
Taking my teenage daughter to the hospital when you have Parkinson’s is a bit like trying to chaperone a school trip while riding a unicycle—technically, I’m in charge, but no one’s entirely convinced I should be.
We arrive at A&E, my daughter in actual need of medical attention, me just there as the Responsible Parent™ (a title I hold loosely at the best of times). But hospitals are bright, noisy, and full of chairs seemingly designed to punish anyone who dares to sit in them. My feet decide to glue themselves to the floor, my hand starts doing its own interpretive dance, and suddenly, I can feel the nurse’s eyes flick from my daughter to me. "And how are you doing today?" she asks, in that tone. The concerned one. The one I am actively trying to avoid.
"Me? Oh, fine! Just here for her," I say, waving vaguely in my daughter’s direction. Except I miss. My arm, being uncooperative, goes off at a weird angle, and now I look like I’m gesturing to a vending machine, which—though it contains important medical supplies such as KitKats—is not, in fact, my child.
My daughter sighs. She is used to this. She also has a teenage superpower: the ability to ignore everything embarrassing I do. The nurse, however, is still looking at me. I try to stay very still, which is laughable. My leg twitches. My face does an unplanned grimace. I focus very, very hard on radiating "Not The Patient" energy, which of course, makes it worse.
"She’s the one who needs help," I say pointedly, hoping to divert attention back to the actual reason we are here. My daughter, bless her, attempts to reclaim the medical spotlight by dramatically holding her stomach (it is a real problem, but she’s now playing it up for my sake).
I shuffle slightly behind a pillar, attempting to blend into the background like a very shaky chameleon. It doesn’t work. Eventually, I resort to my best tactic: distraction. "Wow, is that someone being wheeled in from an ambulance?" I say, nodding dramatically in the opposite direction, hoping the nurse’s gaze will follow. It does. My daughter is now safely in the system, and I have successfully avoided being accidentally admitted.
It’s a fine balance, this hospital stealth mode. I just have to get out before someone offers me a cup of tea and a quiet room to lie down in. Again.
How has your week been?
What’s New in Handshake
✨ Blog of the Week: Steve Steinberg from Shaking It, Man has an airline adventure…
🎥 Vlog of the Week: Daniel from Shakin’ It Easy: Here, he shares his journey navigating early-onset Parkinson’s with practical tips, real-life hacks, and honest encouragement.
🗞️ Article of the Week: A music project at Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music helps people with Parkinson’s by creating personalized compositions, reflecting their tastes and emotions. Mick Broad, a fan of rave and prog rock, described his collaboration as "powerful" and said music makes him feel "whole."
Your Turn
Got a blog, newsletter, video, or creative project about living with Parkinson’s? Share it! This community thrives on connection and collaboration, and your voice matters.
Hit reply or comment below to let me know who and what has come to your attention this week.
See ya next week :)
with love
Emma xxx
Also, quick reminder...I'm a one-parky-wobbly-show...all entries take time as I add them! I will get to yours - promise :)
Brilliant as usual Emma!