Steve Isaac never imagined he’d become a poet. For years, he worked in law enforcement, even serving on a SWAT team. He was constantly moving forward, never pausing to process the difficult things he’d seen. That changed in 2010, when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

“This diagnosis slowed me down,” Steve says. “It gave me time to face some heavy emotions. Poetry helps me process them.”

His first poems were simple verses for his wife, Shanyn – who is quick to point out that Steve took some poetic liberties! Over time, his writing became more than an outlet, it became a way of seeing the world differently.

“Writing is an escape,” Steve explains. “It’s made me more of an observer. I don’t usually write what I’m feeling - I watch other people and wonder what they’re feeling.” His poems explore themes of struggle, racism, suicide, and the heavy burdens he sees around him. But not self-pity. “Parkinson’s can destroy my body, but never my soul. If I can help change someone’s view on challenges, inspire them to change course, I will do that.”

The couple credit Memory & Movement Charlotte for encouraging Steve’s writing. “Dr. Iyer always asks what I’m interested in, what I’m doing, and he’s always supported whatever I’m engaged in,” Steve says. “This disease is challenging, but it also brings opportunities. I’ve learned a lot through the process of slowing down.”

Their daughter Alivia, now 15, has only known her father with Parkinson’s. One of Steve’s symptoms is a lack of facial expression. In one of his many poems to her, Steve writes:

“I’m smiling on the inside of my heart—you can’t see it on my face.”

That message has shaped Alivia's perspective, teaching her to look beyond the surface in all things.

Shanyn reflects on the transformation: “Steve was always an alpha male - very physical, very strong. He never wrote. But Parkinson’s brought out this ability and gave him time to express himself. It’s one of the surprising gifts of this season in our lives.”