Wings of Freedom
Audrey Kim
La Canada High School, La Canada, United States
Publication date: July 21, 2026
La Canada High School, La Canada, United States
Publication date: July 21, 2026
DOI: http://doi.org/10.34614/JIYRC2026I38
ABSTRACT
This health narrative explores themes of personal freedom, family support, and mental resilience through the lens of not only my mom, who was diagnosed with Young Onset’s Parkinson’s Disease, but also personal experience as a caregiver. I delve into our family' s nuanced experiences, as well as the transformed relationship between mother and daughter. Due to my role as a first-hand witness to her struggles, I was able to record the varying and unexpected chronological symptoms of YOPD, as well as the limits of treatments like Levodopa. Additionally, over time, I experienced a role reversal with my mom, and as I express the psychological impacts I faced, my narrative highlights the emotional weight of caregiving while emphasizing the importance of empathy, adaptation, and resilience in navigating chronic illness.
This health narrative explores themes of personal freedom, family support, and mental resilience through the lens of not only my mom, who was diagnosed with Young Onset’s Parkinson’s Disease, but also personal experience as a caregiver. I delve into our family' s nuanced experiences, as well as the transformed relationship between mother and daughter. Due to my role as a first-hand witness to her struggles, I was able to record the varying and unexpected chronological symptoms of YOPD, as well as the limits of treatments like Levodopa. Additionally, over time, I experienced a role reversal with my mom, and as I express the psychological impacts I faced, my narrative highlights the emotional weight of caregiving while emphasizing the importance of empathy, adaptation, and resilience in navigating chronic illness.
