Living the Passionate Life

By Nikia Wells Photographs Courtesy Of Mavis Darling

When Mavis Darling’s father, Reverend Dr. King S. Darling, was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, it deeply impacted the entire Darling family. Reverend Darling was a pillar for so many people who loved, respected, and cherished him, and his illness was a devastating reality for a man who dedicated his life to helping others and nurturing the faith of those around him.

In addition to being a father, a husband, and a leader, he was at his core a man. A man who was loved – a man who had his own hopes and dreams for both him and his family.

Instead of giving into the temptation to succumb to grief due to his illness – a feeling that led Reverend Darling to momentarily question himself and his view of the world – he was able to enjoy life due in great part to the support of his family. They rallied around him and, together, as a unit, they focused on celebrating life.

Her father’s journey also inspired Mavis to become a proponent for Parkinson’s awareness and led her to turn to writing as a creative and therapeutic outlet.

Mavis has written five books, to date, including The Invisible Companion, which chronicles her father’s story.

“We didn’t know very much about Parkinson’s disease. We didn’t know exactly what to expect. We knew he was going through things that nobody else that we knew of experienced in terms of shaking his fingers and legs.”

Initially, Mavis’ father’s illness was thought to be due to age, but the family did not stop until they got a diagnosis. It was a hard reality for Reverend Darling – a man who didn’t smoke, didn’t drink, and did his best to live a “good” life. But his diagnosis led to a decision to live, enjoy life, and to help others to do the same.

The Invisible Companion Cover

According to Mavis, her father and her family’s mantra became, “Just do all the things you always want to do. And that’s been what we’ve been trying to preach with the Parkinson foundation over the years - that people should just live their lives as happy as they can.”

Mavis’ father still wanted to travel and embrace experiences. And while there were persons who didn’t agree with his approach, he preserved.

Over the years, Mavis has continued working to help raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease and provide assistance for those battling the illness in memory of her father. The Kingdor National Parkinson Foundation celebrated its 23rd fundraising ball this past June.

“Our theme for this year is living a passionate life,” Mavis added.

Though she took a short break from storytelling, Mavis returned to writing during the COVID-19 pandemic as an outlet for self-expression. The period of lockdowns and isolation also made Mavis realize that she could enjoy her own company as she embraced getting to know herself better.

“I was never bored a moment during that period because I was always doing one thing after the other.”

It was also during this time that Mavis wrote “The Royal Romance”. She noted that she channelled her personal experiences about love, loss, romance, and relationships into her creative process.

Mavis said that she loves dabbling in various projects and trying new things. She is currently working along with a documentary team, and is excited to keep learning, exploring, and seeing what new adventures await her … including the possibility of adapting one of her books into a film. UA