Living and laughing

By Lia Bichel
Ms Atkin, 60, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease five years ago and has since started a therapeutic art group called Painting with Parkinson’s in the City of Casey.
She hopes to continue helping people diagnosed with the disease through her book, Living and Laughing with Parkinson’s, which will be launched on 26 June.
It took Ms Atkin 12 months to write and illustrate the book and she is “thrilled to bits” with the result.
“What I wanted was something funny, simple and easy,” she said.
“I wrote about the symptoms I had, what I learned about Parkinson’s and funny things that happened to me – and I cartooned it all.”
Ms Atkin said she did not want to downplay the seriousness of the disease, but believed laughter was the best medicine.
“Parkinson’s is extremely serious. You spend a lot of time, especially in the early days, depressed or crying,” she said.
“I find it helps if you can see the funny side of everything.
“I am not always upbeat, but humour helps to get through the bad days and relieves tensions and stress.”
Ms Atkin said she hoped the book not only helps people newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s, but helps their family as well.
“I hope the book will appeal to late primary and secondary college students who may have had a grandparent diagnosed,” she said.
“If people can look at the book and smile or laugh out loud, that’s great.”
Ms Atkin’s neurologist Associate Professor David Williams commended her for work in the forward of the book.
“She has looked deeply into the mirror to document some of the simple but real-life aspects of Parkinson’s disease,” he wrote.
“This first-hand study leaves one with a sense that she is on a journey of many twists and turns, jerks and wriggles, that at the very least has enriched her perspective and probably her life experience too.”
Ms Atkin will be signing her book at Collins Book Shop in Berwick from 9.30am until 11.30am on 23 June.
The book launch will be on 25 June at the Old Cheese Factory at 2pm.