Mylene Pereira knows what it means to face a battle you didn’t choose. But she also knows something else: you get to choose how you face it. 

Born and raised in India, Mylene immigrated to Canada with her husband Keith and their two children in 1990. For over 22 years, she worked as an administrative assistant, built a life she loved, and found joy in cooking, traveling, and spending time with family. 

Then, in 2015, everything changed. 

When a tremor became something more 

It started small. A slight tremor in her hand that she brushed off as tiredness. But her son noticed. “Mom, why is your hand shaking?” he asked. After months of tests and uncertainty, Mylene received a diagnosis: Parkinson’s. 

“Is this it? Am I going to end up in a wheelchair?” she remembers thinking. But slowly, Mylene realized something important: Parkinson’s didn’t mean her life was over. It just meant life was going to look different. 

Parkinson’s looks like this 

For Mylene, Parkinson’s isn’t just about tremors. She developed dystonia in her foot, battles anxiety and depression, and manages medication side effects that sometimes feel worse than the symptoms themselves. 

Friends have grown distant, uncomfortable when she talks about her struggles with depression. But Mylene learned to advocate for herself and speak openly about mental health because hiding it helps no one. 

“I stopped apologizing for my reality,” she says. 

Finding strength in small moments 

Mylene’s mornings are tough. Getting out of bed feels like a chore, but she pushes herself. She stretches, exercises, and recently started boxing with a freestanding punching bag. It makes her feel strong again. 

She finds peace in caring for her indoor plants, laughing with her family, and keeping her body moving. For now, she stays connected in her own way: reaching out, staying active, and holding on to hope. 

When sleep doesn’t come 

One of the hardest parts of Parkinson’s is the nights. Sleep doesn’t always come easily, and when anxiety creeps in, it can feel impossible to quiet the mind. 

If you’re struggling with sleep too, Parkinson Canada has created a Spotify playlist designed to help people living with Parkinson’s find calm and rest. Listen here.

Support is here 

“Don’t be afraid to talk about how you’re feeling,” Mylene says.

“Surround yourself with people who lift you up and find what makes you feel alive, even if it’s something small.” 

Parkinson’s may be part of Mylene’s life, but it doesn’t define her. She’s still a wife, a mother, a fighter, and a believer in the beauty of life, even on the hardest days. 

Parkinson’s is hard. We’re here to help. Call Parkinson Canada’s support line at 1-888-664-1974 or visit parkinson.ca/resources/support-line