Again...This is new!

💜 This is the 2nd Issue!!

If you missed the first one, go back to April 1 or click here.

Please enjoy this issue of the NW Parkinson's Connection for messages of HOPE, our monthly blog and/or pieces of submitted writing, highlights, articles that we find interesting, etc. This comes out the 1st of each month. Our weekly Monday newsletter, What's Happening This Week, will still have the program and event details that are happening during the week.

This is a place where you can slow down, read, reflect, and connect to what's happening in the world of Parkinson's.

• Message of the month
• Benefits of Singing
• Words of Wisdom from Dr. Marci
• May Blog from Peter Dunlap-Shohl
• Passion for Hiking
• Community Gatherings this month
• Environmental Corner
• May Support Groups
• Full May Calendar of NWPF Sponsored Events

MESSAGE OF THE MONTH

Stronger Side by Side at the NWPF WALK for Parkinson's

The Walk for Parkinson’s is more than an event — it is a celebration of courage and community. Families, friends, care partners, and supporters gather with a shared purpose: hope. Each participant represents a story of determination and love.

Walking together reminds us that no one faces Parkinson’s alone. Whether walking a short distance or cheering from the sidelines, every person contributes to something bigger — a community committed to support, research, and brighter days ahead. Hope grows stronger when we move forward side by side.



Make sure you register for the Seattle Walk! www.nwpf.org/seattlewalk2026

Looking ahead, Spokane and Tri-Cities walks will be on September 26. We will get word out closer to those dates!! Save the Date!

IT'S MAY!

National Speech-Language-Hearing Month

Since May is National Speech, Language, and Hearing Month, what better way to celebrate than by reintroducing a beloved singing group class in Spokane.

Welcome back to the

Spokane Tremble Tones!

Exercising your voice is a powerful way to maintain strength, clarity, and confidence—especially for those living with Parkinson’s. This fun, supportive group combines vocal exercises, breathing techniques, and the joy of singing to help improve communication and overall well-being.

Whether you want to be heard more clearly, connect with others, or simply enjoy the lift that music brings, the Spokane Tremble Tones offers a welcoming space to find your voice again.

Now is the time to jump in. This class starts Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 10AM-11AM 📍NWPF Spokane Office and will run every Tuesday!

Led by Ruth Michaelis, this group is open to anyone with Parkinson's and their care partners. No prior experience needed.

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM DR. MARCI

The Joys and Heartache of being a Caregiver

By Dr. Marci Nemhauser | April 20, 2026

There are many wonderful things about being a Caregiver to your partner. Here are just 5 of the things I feel are important to think about.

💜 Create a partnership together. Draw on complementary strengths. Be mutually respectful. Be clear about the objectives you are trying to accomplish.

💜 Stay informed. Seek accurate information from the doctors, support groups. Knowledge strengthens communication and limits misunderstandings.

💜 Pace yourself. Progress requires endurance. It means managing time, your energy and effort.

💜 Use praise as much as possible. Praise is a powerful motivator. You acknowledge effort, improvement, and positive outcomes.

💜 Know when too much is too much. You are not a martyr. Recognize your limits—mental, physical and emotional. You know when you are stressed and overwhelmed. This is the time to set and reinforce boundaries. This helps maintain a good relationship between you and your partner.

Being a Caregiver is a wonderful way to stay in relationship with your partner and continue to live a full life together.

INTERESTING READ

MAY BLOG

Parkinson’s Disease motivates both the selfless and the selfish

By Peter Dunlap-Shohl

Author Name

Instructor’s Name

April 26, 2026

Parkinson’s Disease motivates both the selfless and the selfish 

When you have Parkinson’s Disease, it’s hard to escape a narrowing of your focus down to your particular struggle. After all, PD is constantly up in your face impolitely reminding you it is still here, and has no plans to go away, thank you very much. From the constant repetition of “What did you say?” when you try to make yourself heard in conversation, to your souvenir bumps, bruises, and abrasions from the falls you have taken, it’s hard to forget you have this chronic, catastrophic disorder.

But your disease can also affect others in ways that carry a profound message. And those affected are not only family members and friends, they can be total strangers. 

I once passed out in a busy restaurant after a day of walking around Seattle. I was overcome by an intense nausea. Mortified at the thought of throwing up in front of innocent fellow diners, I booked it for the restroom.

I didn’t make it. 

Instead, I blacked out and crashed to the floor in the middle of the dining room. I attribute the blackout and subsequent fall to a condition frequently affecting people with Parkinson’s, orthostatic hypotension, the extreme sudden lowering of blood pressure when we move to stand, rendering us vulnerable to dizziness, lightheadedness, and passing out. 

I regained consciousness to find myself flat on my back looking up from the floor at a circle of concerned faces. My brief bout of nausea thankfully resolved without any actual heaving. Strangers whose pleasant dinner I had rudely interrupted reacted not with exasperation, but with concern for my wellbeing. In the short time I was out, people I didn’t know called paramedics on their cell phones and left their dinners to get cold until they were assured I was not in danger.

Although they didn’t know it, they had all been touched by Parkinson’s, through me. All they saw was a guy in trouble, and they did what they could to help. Other people have actually picked me up, despite my protests, in grocery stores and in parking lots when I have fallen while running errands. 

Events like this are a useful reminder of a wonderful thing, that people acknowledge our common humanity and mutual responsibility almost automatically when they encounter a fellow human in distress. This instinct to help the stricken is one thing what keeps our species going. 

But I see I have fallen into the very trap I was trying to warn of when I started this post, narrowing the view down to my particular troubles, ignoring the struggles of others. So, let’s look at how another person’s Parkinson’s can provoke a less edifying result.

Think back a few years to a video that went viral. A knot of angry people were protesting healthcare reform. A lone man carrying a sign that read “I have Parkinson’s Disease” actually crawled over on his hands and knees to confront the group. Unimpressed, they taunted him yelling “Communist!” and “No more handouts!” Later one remorseful member of the group recanted and apologized.

So, a case of Parkinson’s Disease can bring out the best or the worst in your fellow travelers through this vale of tears. It is an affirmation of our common vulnerability and our common responsibility to one another. It’s not “your Parkinson’s” or “my Parkinson’s’’ it’s our Parkinson’s.

Read this and other blogs on our website

PASSION FOR HIKING

Healing PD with Hiking Boots

By Bill Clugston | April 19, 2026

The magic of hiking outdoors. A good walk heals the body and the soul. Parkinson’s Disease wounds the body and soul. This disease cuts us off from our friends and society.

As a long-time walker and hiker, I expected the physical benefits, but the camaraderie was an even greater gain! I met other people with Parkinson's on my PassToPass hikes from many different states and countries. We all shared the same goal – taking our lives back from this dreadful disease and enjoying the outdoors! Watching the sunset glow of Mount Rainier with new friends is an experience to be savored and remembered.

Support from others is a huge plus when battling PD. Hiking a trail and talking to others about shared experiences is a great way to build your support network! The chats with my fellow hikers stay with me after every event.

PassToPass offers short day hikes, overnight events at Mount Rainier, or multi-day backpacking trips for a strenuous challenge. Yes, it’ll take effort on your part, but the rewards are great. The connection to nature and the new friendships formed on your walks are more powerful than any medicine! It’s said that nature heals, and it does, but so do the friendships that you’ll gain on a PassToPass hike!

To check out the 2026 Hikes through PassToPass go to www.passtopass.org

COMMUNITY GATHERINGS FOR MAY!

Join the Parkinson's community for a fun gathering.

BOTHELL!

🍺 FRIENDS & FAMILY NIGHT for Parkinson's 🍺

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

5:00 PM-10:00 PM

McMenamin's Anderson School

⭐️ 50% of all dine-in Sales goes to NWPF!

SPOKANE!

🍺 Pints for Parkinson's 🍺

Friday, May 15

7:00 AM-9:00 PM

The Grain Shed

KIRKLAND!

🧥 POP-UP for Parkinson's 👗

Wednesday, May 27

5:30-7:30 PM

Walla Walla Clothing Co.

ENVIRONMENTAL CORNER

MAY NWPF SUPPORT GROUPS

Join one of our online support groups. Newcomers are always welcome because it takes a village.

May:

• Women with Parkinson's, Tues, May 5 @ 3:00-4:00pm PT
• Adult Children of PwP, Tues, May 5 @ 6:00-7:00pm PT
• Newly Diagnosed with PD, Thurs, May 14 @ 3:00-4:00pm PT
• Care Partners for PwP, Tues, May 12 @ 3:00-4:30pm PT
• Lay Facilitators, Tues, May 19 @ 2:00-3:00pm PT
• People with Parkinson's, Thurs, May 25 @ Noon-1:00pm PT
• Snoqualmie Valley Area, Thurs, May 25 @ 4:00-5:00pm PT
• Care Partners Support Group with Audrey, May 21 @ 1:00-2:00pm PT (NWPF Spokane office)
• Care Partners for PwP, Tues, May 26 @ 3:00-4:30pm PT

Contact Dr. Marci to join. Or, email us at info@nwpf.org if you are looking for a support group in your area as we update our online list. If you need a consult to help decide your needs, email Dr. Marci, dr.marci@nwpf.org. For a full description of all the NWPF Support Groups go to the NWPF website under Resources.



MAY 2026 CALENDAR

(Spotlight)

(In-Person Classes Only)

(VIrtual/Hybrid Only Classes)

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Please Note: Our weekly updates are a collection of recently published articles and stories. They are offered to our readers solely on an informational basis. We urge you to do your own follow up on any of the information found in the articles presented. 

The information posted here by www.nwpf.org is not to be considered medical advice and is not intended to replace consultation with a qualified medical professional. If you have any questions or concerns about the information contained in the articles ALWAYS check with your own doctor before trying or following any suggestions found in the articles.