On 1/1/2020……. I lost my mother, Sharon, due to Parkinson’s disease. I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas on tough topics in caregiving and send thoughts and prayers for others diagnosed and caregivers, so this BLOG was created in their memories.
The Tackling Tough Topics BLOG 28: F Parkinson’s: What It Took From Me When My Mom Passed
This blog is dedicated to all those caretakers who care for a loved one with any disease and to those who have been diagnosed. We hear you; we see you, and we will never stop fighting until there is a cure
F Parkinson’s. As Harrison Ford powerfully expresses—and as my hero, actor and advocate Michael J. Fox echoes in Season 3 of Shrinking—the message is simple but profound: we keep going, no matter what.
That theme isn’t just something I’ve seen on screen—it’s something I’ve lived. For 18 years, my mother, Sharon, battled Parkinson’s disease with strength and courage. Since losing her on 1/1/2020, that message has stayed with me every single day.
It’s more than a line in a show—it’s a way of life. A reminder to keep fighting, keep advocating, and keep pushing forward in honor of those we love.
Not as a slogan. Not as a catchphrase. As a truth that comes from the deepest place of loss.
Parkinson’s disease didn’t just take my mother’s health. It took pieces of her, slowly and cruelly, while leaving the rest of us to watch. It took her voice, her strength, her independence, and eventually her life. But what people don’t always see is what it took from me when my mom passed due to Parkinson’s disease.
It took my sense of safety.
Watching a parent decline rewires you. The world no longer feels predictable or fair. Parkinson’s taught me that time is fragile and that love can be powerless against biology. I learned that no matter how hard you fight, show up, advocate, or pray, the disease does not negotiate. That realization stays with you long after the funeral is over.
It took moments I will never get back.
Parkinson’s is not a single loss—it is death by a thousand goodbyes. I lost my mother in pieces: the way she moved, the way she laughed freely, the way she once lived without fear of falling or freezing. Holidays changed. Conversations changed. Plans disappeared. Even joy felt borrowed, always overshadowed by what Parkinson’s was preparing to take next.
It took the version of me I was before grief.
Before Parkinson’s, I didn’t wake up with a weight on my chest. I didn’t measure time by doctor appointments, medications, or disease progression. Losing my mom forced me to grow in ways I never asked for. Grief hardened some parts of me and cracked others wide open. I became more aware, more protective, more driven—but also more tired, more guarded, and permanently changed.
It took the illusion that love alone is enough.
I loved my mom fiercely. Our family loved her fiercely. And yet Parkinson’s still won. That truth is one of the most painful lessons this disease teaches. Love does not cure Parkinson’s. Devotion does not stop progression. And families are left carrying guilt they should never have to carry—wondering if they did enough, said enough, or fought hard enough.
But Parkinson’s did not take everything.
It did not take my voice.
When my mom passed, something in me shifted. The pain didn’t disappear—it transformed. Grief became purpose. Anger became advocacy. Love became action. I refuse to let my mother’s suffering fade into silence. Her story matters. Every family living this nightmare matters.
That is why I say “F Parkinson’s” without apology.
Because no disease should rob families of dignity, sleep, peace, and parents. No child should watch their mother disappear while still physically present. No family should feel alone in a fight this brutal.
Parkinson’s took my mom—but it also lit a fire in me.
I will keep fighting for awareness, for research, and for a cure so that one day, no one else has to write an essay like this. Until then, I carry my mother with me—in every story told, every voice raised, and every step forward in this fight.
F Parkinson’s.
And for my mom—forever.
Photo Credit: Vanity Fair, https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/harrison-ford-michael-j-fox-shrinking-parkinsons-interview?srsltid=AfmBOooIvftwhTWJ6_x9wzmSnBehBcAjFkv1qrda6Q0kfEd0xIiqTJsx
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George’s Biography
Dr. George Ackerman is from Brooklyn, N.Y. He now resides in Florida and works in the fields of law, police, and education. George lost his mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman, on 1/1/2020 due to Parkinson’s Disease.
George wanted to honor his mother and continue to help in the Parkinson’s awareness cause, but he did not know how to bring about change. With my family, we started TogetherForSharon® to keep my mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman, ‘s memory alive and share the message of Parkinson’s Awareness and hope for a cure.
Today, https://www.togetherforsharon.com/ reaches thousands of individuals across the country to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease. George currently interviews individuals throughout the Parkinson’s community, including various foundations, caregivers, and Parkinson’s warriors, to help share their stories and causes.
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Want to share a Blog on a PD topic? Reach out to togetherforsharon@gmail.com
TogetherForSharon® In memory of my mother, Sharon to voice awareness & hope for a Parkinson’s Disease cure
Do you have a story to tell, a journey to share, or a blog you’d like to write?
We are always looking for writers, bloggers, and Parkinson’s advocates who want to team up and raise awareness together.
If you’re interested, please email us at togetherforsharon@gmail.com.
You can also explore our blog here:
https://togetherforsharon.com/parkinsons-blogs/