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How Building Dollhouses Helped One Man Cope with Parkinson’s Disease

When Barry Roberson received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy, he was told he had four years to live. Grappling with the news, he took to the hills behind his house to pray… and received an answer that he never could’ve anticipated: “Build dollhouses.”

When Barry Roberson received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy, he was told he had four years to live. Grappling with the news, he took to the hills behind his house to pray… and received an answer that he never could’ve anticipated: “Build dollhouses.”

Barry stands with one of his dollhouses. 

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Barry stands with one of his dollhouses. 


Barry creates the custom structures for free, and gives them to sick children and those in need of a pick-me-up.

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Barry creates the custom structures for free, and gives them to sick children and those in need of a pick-me-up.

He’s built 130 miniature structures to date.

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He’s built 130 miniature structures to date.


Barry doesn’t just make dollhouses. His creations include miniature gas stations, woodworking shops, baseball stadiums and more.

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Barry doesn’t just make dollhouses. His creations include miniature gas stations, woodworking shops, baseball stadiums and more.


The fine motor skills it takes to create the structures keep his hands and brain engaged.

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The fine motor skills it takes to create the structures keep his hands and brain engaged.


Depression is a danger for those with Parkinson’s and having a creative project can help keep spirits up.

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Depression is a danger for those with Parkinson’s and having a creative project can help keep spirits up.


All of the jerking motions that come with Barry’s diagnoses disappear when he sits down to work on his projects.

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All of the jerking motions that come with Barry’s diagnoses disappear when he sits down to work on his projects.

Requests for new pieces keep coming in.

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Requests for new pieces keep coming in.


Barry has outlived his initial prognosis by three years.

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Barry has outlived his initial prognosis by three years.

Read More: A Man with Parkinson’s Disease Gets a Strange Answer to Prayer

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