In the seventh in our series profiling the bloggers supporting the World Parkinson Congress 2019, we talk to US blogger Allison Smith about “expanding her
wolf pack” – and the power of sharing your story
Can you describe yourself in one sentence?
I am a medical anomaly, an advocate for people, freakishly smart, believer of unicorns, self-proclaimed frozen yogurt addict, secretly a ninja – and I have Parkinson’s disease.
Do you have a particular audience in mind when you’re writing?
Individuals, families, friends and professionals faced with Parkinson’s disease.
Is there an aspect of Parkinson’s that you’re most passionate about?
Helping people create their wolf pack – a group of people who you can reach out to for support – and using humour to get through the difficult times.
How widely read is your blog and in which countries?
It’s been amazing where my blog has reached – from Canada all the way to the UK. I even had a couple from the Canary Islands, Spain, who had no resources available to them but still found my blog. The husband was actually translating my posts to his wife.
My words connect people from all over the world and that is something that brings joy and meaning to my life.
Have you been surprised by the global audience and level of interest you’ve attracted?
Yes, I have found the power of sharing your story. It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, you can jump on your computer and find support.
Which of your posts has attracted the most interest from your readers?
‘What it takes to look normal’ had over 5,000 views in the first week. It talked about the amount of energy Parkies have to put into looking and appearing to not have Parkinson’s disease. It’s like looking behind the curtain on a day in the life of a Parkie.
Which has been the most controversial?
I try not to rub people up the wrong way and I keep it light hearted, so finding a controversial post is difficult. I believe everyone can have an opinion because we are all experiencing Parkinson’s differently.
Talk us through your routine: when do you find time to blog?
I write at night or on the weekends. Going to a coffee shop helps me focus because I have designated that specific time to blogging – it’s more difficult at home where my dog Crash is a big distraction. How can I say no to that little fur face?
