PD Mama

10/10/2026

Charging my this morning reflecting on yesterday - a day in London recording a podcast with about my deep brain stimulation and challenges I've faced over the last couple of years.
Let's be clear - without my dbs, I wouldn't have been able to do this. Without my husband, I wouldn't have been able to get on or off the train! I am grateful. Struggling, but still grateful. 💙

03/10/2026

Charging my after a hard week symptoms-wise and zero energy. I'm really feeling the toll of my at the moment. BUT I finally have a date for my lead replacement surgery in November and I'm going for a proper hair cut for the first time in 2 years! 🫣🤖💙 (if you'd had as many head wound issues as me over the past couple of years you'd definitely feel the same about having someone else take a comb to your scalp!) Wish me luck! My movement fluctuations are pretty bad at the moment so really hoping I can sit still! 🤞

23/09/2026

Is having a cool?
I'll tell you what I don't think is cool - people describing people with disabilities who talk about their health openly as "sickfluencers". That's not cool. Unless you want to marginalise an already vulnerable patient population.
I have talked about having for the past ten years or so online because when I was diagnosed at 29, there was only a very, very small online community and I was unique in my position as a younger female of child-bearing/working age living with this s**tshow of a chronic progressive neurodegenerative condition. I wanted other younger people (particularly women) who may be affected by Parkinson's to feel less alone and, based on the messages I still get, I think I'm still achieving that now at 42. I've been saying this for years now - I'm still too young for this s**t.
None of it is cool. None of the 40+ symptoms are cool. The lack of understanding by the general public and stigma around the condition is astounding. It's just not cool at whatever age and whatever walk of life, whatever your race or gender, but for me personally it's been particularly brutal living through my 30s and raising my kids with it. Just. Not. Cool. Having multiple brain surgeries isn't cool. Medicating up to 12 times a day... fluctuating debilitating symptoms and side effects from the drugs you take to control your movement inducing uncontrollable movement... guess what? Not cool!
Thankful to all those who now speak out on social media on what we deal with daily (as my PD progresses, I'm more often than not too unwell to either type / have the patience to correct the nonsense my dictation software comes out with, or record myself) - and guess what? None of it is cool.
I have - what should I look like?!
Less judgement please.
(For the record, I'm pretty f**king cool)

20/09/2026

So proud of my England Womens Parkinson’s Team team mates for coming home from Canada with a trophy shared with the men's Parkinson's team! Looking forward to playing with you all again soon. 💙⚽️❤️

11/09/2026

Absolutely broken hearted to say that I have tested positive for Covid and won't be travelling with my England Womens Parkinson’s Team teammates to Canada tomorrow for the week. 😷😭💔
I've felt unwell for a few days now and whilst I will hopefully be feeling better by next week, I may still be carrying the virus and would be travelling and networking with too many vulnerable people to risk passing anything on. I'm not prepared to take that risk. I also have to think about my longer term health.
Wishing my teammates (and counterparts) the best of luck. I'm absolutely gutted I won't be there with you in person but know you'll all be amazing. 
Big love ❤️ ⚽️🇨🇦💙
(Pictures by my daughter to cheer me up)

07/09/2026

In final preparations for our Canada trip now. It's getting quite exciting! I've written a new blog and the link is in my bio. It's not about walking football but it's a message of hope.
"Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up; it’s simply learning how to use the remaining air differently."


https://pdmamablog.wordpress.com/

06/09/2026

This FREE event is open to people living with Parkinson's, family, carers, healthcare professionals and anyone looking to discover how walking soccer can transform the lives of people living with Parkinson's.
DATE: Thursday September 17, 2026, 10am-2pm.
VENUE: Cherry Beach Sports Fields, 275 Unwin Ave, Toronto, ON M5A 3K8 CANADA

Canada’s first Parkinson’s Walking Soccer Festival in Toronto, featuring England’s men’s and women’s national teams, games, coaching and community celebrations.

05/09/2026

A week to go until Toronto! My kit arrived for the journey - very, very exciting.
I think it will take me all week to pack as it's exhausting and I get no joy from it but it'll be so worth it once I'm there!
Made a start by sorting my meds - 8 different drugs currently - and my DBS kit (to pack later on), which is probably the reason I'm still able to go despite all the issues... always grateful 💙⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇨🇦

03/09/2026

Can't believe this is happening and I'm going! 🇨🇦❤️⚽️💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

21/08/2026

Still believe 100% in the I contributed to Anna Lyons book despite so much time passing since I wrote this.
"You can still achieve things if you adapt around your symptoms and identity what motivates you and makes you happy".
, please get the message and kindly f**k off and leave my friends alone too 😀💙