A Decade of Decline: Living with Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease does not announce itself loudly. It begins subtly—perhaps a faint tremor, a loss of balance, or a barely noticeable shift in gait. But over time, it chisels away at the familiar contours of daily life. For my wife, the journey with Parkinson’s has spanned over ten years. As the condition progressed, so too did the challenges. Mobility became a daily struggle, and more worryingly, her voice diminished to little more than a whisper.
Soft speech is a common symptom, yet one that is often underestimated. In our case, it meant I could no longer reliably hear her—especially in moments of distress. She could call for help, but her voice would vanish into the silence of our home. That terrifying possibility—her needing help and no one hearing—was a burden I carried constantly.
