Maybe one meaningful thing we can do is let our loved ones speak for themselves
Written by Crystal Onyema | June 24, 2026
As my late Uncle Brandon’s Parkinson’s disease progressed, my family became increasingly involved in helping him navigate appointments, medications, physical therapy, and everyday life.
But somewhere along the way, we started making mistakes. At times, we began talking about Uncle Brandon more than we talked to him. At first, it seemed harmless. When we attended doctor appointments or physical therapy sessions, healthcare providers would often direct questions toward us.
How was his gait? How were his tremors? How was his sleep? Was he eating well? How often was he exercising? How was his mobility around the house? Before long, one of us would jump in with an answer. After all, we spent a lot of time with him and wanted to be helpful. We knew his routines, his challenges, and the things he sometimes forgot to mention.
Meanwhile, Uncle Brandon would sit there looking less and less amused as everyone around him answered questions about his life for him. He didn’t always say anything, but the expression alone told us exactly what he was thinking.
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