Voices of Resilience: Conversations with Parkinson’s Disease Warriors, Caregivers, and Advocates – Book I Paperback and Kindle versions available.

About the Book….

This book of interviews aims to raise awareness and hope for a cure for Parkinson’s Disease. I contacted individuals worldwide to obtain the interviews because PD does not discriminate and affects individuals, families, and communities worldwide. I believe we must be family in this fight for a cure. When I learned that approximately 1 million individuals are diagnosed in the United States and over 10 million worldwide, I felt that many other journeys needed to be shared. So many inspired me to keep advocating for a cure!

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Order a Copy Here

Paperback and Kindle (eBook) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DG27S342

Dedication

To all those battling Parkinson’s disease and their families and communities throughout the world and in memory of my mother, Sharon, who fought her Parkinson’s valiantly to the end.

Endorsements:

Each chapter in Voices of Resilience introduces readers to inspiring figures who share their personal journeys with Parkinson’s. Their stories are a blend of challenges, triumphs, and humor, showcasing the unique ways they cope with and adapt to disease. This book not only aims to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease but also to celebrate the strength and creativity of those living with it. The first installment of this series of books offers an insightful and engaging look at the diverse experiences of both men and women at different stages of the condition. This is a passion project for my husband, whose goal is to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

I am so proud!

—Grether Ackerman, Sharon’s Daughter-in-Law

See the interview with Grether in Chapter 2.

In Voices of Resilience, Dr. George Ackerman once again makes the bold choice to step away from the status quo of pushing the next best medications or citing lengthy clinical studies. Instead, he gives readers a unique understanding of living with Parkinson’s disease by sharing candid interviews with those who are currently impacted by this devastating condition. It is through these conversations that readers discover that Parkinson’s is much more than a faceless, chronological, neurodegenerative disease without a cure.

Throughout these pages, Dr Ackerman shows that a life with Parkinson’s is a journey of self-discovery and patience. It’s having the courage to commit to self-improvement and new beginnings. Living with Parkinson’s is learning the art of letting go while coming to terms with the challenges of acceptance and compromise. It is discovering the value of being fully present and trusting that the only moment that truly matters—is now.

—Mick Beaman, Music Breathes

Within a day of my diagnosis of Young Onset Parkinson’s, I started to trawl social media to see what I could learn. It didn’t take long for me to come across George. He is a 24/7 advocate and one of a kind. He is not only a relentless advocate for a cure but also one of the most encouraging and kindest people I know. This passion is combined with his sharp mind and focus on these remarkable interviews. They are unique, just like George!

— Carl Beech, CEO Spotlight YOPD

With all the passion and care that are George’s hallmark, he uses the voices of those directly impacted by this disease to put an exclamation point on raising awareness and advocating for a cure for PD! George is exceptionally eloquent in his pursuit of awareness and passionately in tune with the Parkinson’s community. As individuals challenged with Parkinson’s, my husband and I are so glad to have George on our side, constantly advocating for the benefit of everyone impacted by this disease!

—Debra Flynn, Person with Parkinson’s Ambassador and Florida Chapter Board Member, Parkinson’s Foundation

George has worked tirelessly to bring the world’s Parkinson’s community together in this book through his interviews. Each person featured has a different story with one main theme: provide hope to all of us who are living with Parkinson’s.

—Glen M. Higa, President, Hawai’i Parkinson Association,

Certified Personal Trainer, Make It Happen Personal Training

Table of Contents

Praise iii
Dedication v
Introduction 1
Chapter 1: People with Parkinson’s 5
Dan O’Brien, DOB Parkinson’s Charity 6
Mark Milow, Parkinson’s Advocate 12
Philip Ommen, Parkinson Positivity 17
Ali Blevins, Poets With Parkinson’s 21
Esther Labib-Kiyarash, On Advocacy 24
Rachelle Smith-Stallman, Dance Beyond Parkinson’s 28
Neil Russell, Ran From London to Barcelona for PD Awareness 32
Melissa Marie Livingston, Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease 40
Megan Taye, YOPD Love Letters 43
Jamie Bryson, Parkinson’s Fight Club 47
Dianne Bramble, Paintings for Parkinson’s 50
Angie Gwinn on Advocacy 53
Thomas Cosentino, Ambassador, Davis Phinney Foundation 58
Anthony Rose, Puckfarkinson’s 62
Nikos Koukoulakis, Parky Lifting on Weight Training for PD 65
Sharon Krischer, Sunday Mornings with Twitchy Woman and
Parkinson’s Foundation, Ambassador 69
Sandy Ellis, InMotion Parkinson’s Wellness Center 73
Carl Carter-Schwendler on Advocacy through TikTok 77
Christopher Sutphin on Advocacy through TikTok 80
Chapter 2: Caregivers and Family Members 83
Evan Juice Cutler, PushUps 4 Parkinsons 84
Grether Ackerman, Sharon’s Daughter-in-Law and My Wife 89
Chapter 3: Physicians, Scientists, and Researchers 93
Dr. Julie Pilitsis, Dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of
Medicine and Vice President of Health Affairs at Florida
Atlantic University (FAU). 94
Somil Bhushan, The Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder
Center of Silicon Valley 98
Bret Huotari, Ascend Performance Training 103
Dr. Jeanne Loring, Scripps Research on Stem Cell 106
Dr. Melissa McConaghy, Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist,
PD Warrior 110
Chapter 4: Advocates 114
Bree Gordon Lukosavich, MT-BC, Music and Art Therapy,
through the Creative Arts Therapies of the Palm Beaches 115
Gary McKitterick Gillett, Trek Ready Himalayas- Mountain
Climbing for PD 123
Susan and Gretja Otten: Appalachian Trail for PD Awareness 128
Rose Donaldson, PD Mums Musings 134
Jane Cullen, PD Advocate 137
Nathan Moyer, Physical Therapist Assistant, on Advocacy 140
Lauren Sheldon, #PerseveringWithParkinsons 143
Lotti Sand on Living with Parkinson’s 146
Ethan Henderson, The Michael J. Fox Foundation 151
Chapter 5: United States Organizations for Parkinson’s 155
Colleen Greenhalgh, Beyond Fitness, Rock Steady Boxing,
Delray, Florida 156
Cindy Surman, Assistant to the Directors, Boca Ballet Theatre,
Dancing for Parkinson’s, Boca Raton, Florida 160
Jean Allenbach, American Parkinson Disease Association,
Regional Director West, Upper Midwest and Southeast States 165
Ryan Roach, Punch 4 Parkinson’s 171
Megan Schneider, Advocacy Outreach Coordinator with the
Michael J. Fox Foundation 176
Rob Solomon, Ping Pong for Parkinson’s 185
Team Parky on Parky 4 Parkinson’s Patient Buddy—
Digital Health Tool 189
Lou Russo, Putt for Parkinson’s 195
Austyn Marks, Team Fox, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for
Parkinson’s Research 199
Zachary Hartman, Peak Parkinson’s Performance 206
Leisha Phipps, Dallas Area Parkinson Society (DAPS) 210
Naomi McLeod, American Parkinson’s Disease Association, -Virginia 214
Parkinson Association of Alabama 219
Chapter 6: United States Organizations for Related Illnesses 223
Betsy Sloan, Advocacy for Alzheimer’s Disease 224
Chapter 7: International Organizations for Parkinson’s 228
Tamra Boaden, Passion for Parkinson’s Foundation, Canada 229
Kate Gray, Move4Parkinson’s, Ireland 234
Luba Sadovska, Head Coach, North Shore Table Tennis Club
for PD, British Columbia 240
Elias Reis de Oliveira, Parkinson’s Association of Minas Gerais, Brazil 248
Wendy van Wijk-Lugthart, Geniet Van Het Leven Met Parkinson [Enjoying Life With Parkinson’s] Magazine, The Netherlands 251
Christian Schmidt-Heisch, Parkinson Pate [Godparents], Germany 257
Mark Limebear and Michel Planquart, No Silver Bullet 4 PD,
United Kingdom 260
Chapter 8: Conclusion 266
Chapter 9: About the Author 268
Acknowledgment 270

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Photo Credit: Kumara Swamy
Photo Credit: Devarshi Dwivedi