“Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink in the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emmerson

Summer has been, and always will be, my favourite season. Don’t get me wrong, I am truly blessed to live in Canada where we enjoy 4 very different seasons, but to me, there is nothing better than a day spent at the beach with family or friends. Unfortunately, Parkinson’s has changed the way I enjoy summer and I have had to once again adjust and adapt in a few ways.

Sunshine is one of my loves and no matter where I am, I can tell you where the sun rises, sets, and the optimal position to sit to take advantage of the rays. Growing up, working on a ‘tan’ was an important sidebar to my summer experience. Days were spent lounging in the backyard with my sisters, swimming in my friend Ruthie’s pool, and running wild at summer camp. Sunscreen was usually an afterthought when my shoulders were red and my nose was peeling. But I grew to crave every minute in the sun, from waking at ridiculous hours to catch the sunrise, to staying late at the beach to take in the sunset.

While there are many things that Parkinson’s has forced me to adapt to, I was very disappointed to discover there is a link between PD and skin cancer. A Surprising Relationship: Parkinson’s Disease & Melanoma. There are lots of studies and research on the subject and the bottom line is that people with PD need to have a dermatologist on their ‘team’ and take every precaution while in the sunshine by reducing exposure and using sunscreen. And so I’m getting a referral to a dermatologist and searching for a high-quality paraben-free sunscreen…but reducing time spent in the sunshine….this will be harder!

My shoe of choice has always been my flip-flops. In fact, I’ve always had a competition with myself to eliminate the use of socks from my wardrobe as early as possible in the spring or as late as possible in the fall in order to slide into sandals.

However, the dystonia in My Left Foot is preventing me from wearing sandals or flip-flops. It’s a difficult thing to describe, but my foot just doesn’t have the coordination to strike the ground properly and I do much better in a shoe. So I go barefoot where and when I can, and I have found light shoes that support my foot without the need of a sock – it’s a compromise – but I still miss the flip-flops!!

Finally, summer is a time for swimming and this is something that I’ve always enjoyed, for cooling off and helping with that summer tan!

Last summer, I was alarmed when I went for a swim at a friend’s cottage and found myself in a little bit of trouble. My left arm (tremor side) and shoulder suffers from rigidity, stiffness, restricted movement, and PAIN. Once in the water, I realized that I could not move that arm in the form of a front crawl, breaststroke, or even a dog paddle. It was alarming and I had someone toss me a pool noodle in order for me to stay afloat. So now I need to always consider wearing a PFD when I am on a boat or in deep water.

Luckily, these are PD problems that have solutions.