Heated Rivalry author says TV success brought specialist help for her Parkinson's.

Rachel Reid, author of Heated Rivalry, says publicity from the TV adaptation led a Parkinson's specialist to contact her and arrange a neurologist appointment. She was diagnosed in mid‑2023 and had been on a long local waiting list for care.

Rachel Reid, author of Heated Rivalry, says attention around the TV adaptation led a Parkinson's expert to reach out and help her secure specialist care. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's in the summer of 2023, around the time the series was being adapted for television. The show has drawn wide discussion after its North American release in late November and is scheduled to start in the UK in January. Reid has lived with long local wait times for specialist appointments and reported that the new contact opened a quicker path to a neurologist. What was reported: - Rachel Reid, 45, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the summer of 2023 and later spoke about it during publicity for the show. - The TV adaptation of her Game Changers books drew broad attention after a late November launch in North America and has been widely discussed in media coverage. - A leading Parkinson's expert contacted Reid after hearing about her diagnosis and helped arrange an appointment with a neurologist, as well as advising a medication adjustment that improved her sleep. - Reid described practical challenges from her symptoms, including difficulty using a computer mouse, limited ability to type for long periods, and trouble sitting for extended times, and she is exploring alternative ways to continue writing. - The series, which centers on a relationship between two ice hockey players, is due to premiere on UK services on 10 January. Summary: The publicity around the television adaptation appears to have helped Reid access specialist care she had not been able to reach locally, which could lead to changes in her treatment and daily routine. Her next step is an upcoming appointment with a neurologist; further outcomes are undetermined at this time.