“I have REM Behavior Sleep Disorder” I announced very matter of factly. The response, “What is that!?” someone asked. I responded, “REM Behavior Sleep Disorder (aka RBD) is a sleep disorder that causes people to act out their dreams while in the REM stage of sleep. “Basically, you are physically and/or vocally acting out your dreams.”

Hello, my name is Denise Rieman. I am a Registered Nurse educated at the University of Cincinnati. I am a lifetime resident of Cincinnati, Ohio. I have been living with Parkinson's Disease for over nine years. My journey with Parkinson's began following two years of failure to diagnose. Having to advocate for myself to reach a diagnosis of Parkinson's, I am passionate about advocating for persons unable to navigate the healthcare system themselves and raising awareness about the disease. The years since have been challenging, but it has also taught me a lot about resilience, hope, and the importance of community.