I recently attended a 4-session online workshop hosted by Harvard University’s wellness program. The goal for each participant was to write a 55-word statement of where they are with Parkinson’s, to give doctors and other medical staff a better sense of who we are as individuals, and what matters most to us now.
Of course, the course instructors can do a better job of explaining the goal than I can, so let me paste their own words here:
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We are excited to introduce an innovative new program that aims to transform healthcare experiences for patients and providers alike: “In Our Own Words”. This initiative is grounded in the principles of Narrative Medicine, an approach that emphasizes the importance of understanding and engaging with each patient’s unique story. Studies have shown that health outcomes improve when healthcare providers are attuned to the stories behind their patients.
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About the Program
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“In Our Own Words” will bring people with Parkinson’s together in a series of Zoom workshops to develop 55-word stories that highlight their values and describe what matters most in their illness journey. These stories will be recorded and can be shared with healthcare providers to enhance patient-provider relationships. The workshops will be led by Dr. Sneha Mantri, a movement disorders neurologist from Duke University with advanced training in narrative medicine, and Lissa Kapust, LICSW, WellnessWorks Coordinator.
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For what it’s worth, here are my 55 words:
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Swimming
If you type “swim” in my blog’s search box, you’ll find dozens of links to posts about swimming, mostly outdoor competitions (in lakes, rivers, or the ocean) that I entered as an adult. I often swam from one side of the Hudson River to the other.
Alas, thanks to Parkinson’s dysphagia, no more.
