Parkinson’s Network changing lives

 July 13, 2016

GUN BARREL CITY, TEXAS

Positive vibes and laughter flow throughout the room as program leader Caren Anthony initiates an exercise class designed for helping people with Parkinson’s disease, stroke or traumatic brain injury.

There’s a feeling that everyone really wants to be there. The gentlemen are cracking jokes with one another, spouses are laughing back-and-forth. There’s something in the air. It’s a vibrant hope that these individuals in the free program hosted at Family Fitness in Gun Barrel City will get better.

“We laugh, cry and are loud,” Anthony says.

The program was created by Colorado resident Gary Sobol, who himself experienced severe motor skill loss from Parkinson’s disease in 2008 – and gained it back with regular exercise. He eventually founded GZSobol’s Parkinson’s Network in 2013 with the mission to help others. The network has three main principles: overcome challenges, improve quality of life and restore functions. After receiving training, Anthony runs the same class in Henderson County.

Anthony is also an emergency service first responder from Eustace and makes a living as the Marketing Director at Cedar Lake Home Health and Hospice in Malakoff and Corsicana. She is one of only ten certified Parkinson’s instructors in Texas.

Anthony first learned of Sobol’s network at a conference she attended through another hospice care, and when the opportunity arose to change job positions, she made it a priority to bring Sobol to Cedar Lake Home Health and Hospice and receive training. She wasted no time becoming certified and jump-starting classes.

Family Fitness owners Eric Castro and Steve Steerman have encouraged Anthony to offer the free classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week from 12:30-2 p.m.

As a first responder, Anthony also provides “Vial of Life” packets for emergency planning and promotes fire escape plans.

This class was initially planned for six weeks, but because of the success rate, Anthony plans to keep the class going.

“If we can change one person’s life in this room, which I think we’ve changed several, that’s what it’s all about,” Anthony said. “You just have to care about people and change their life. And that’s what we do, that’s what we’re up to.”

The Parkinson’s Network also provides exercise classes for people with MS, TBI, neurological disorders and for those that want to age well.

http://themonitor.net/blog2/2016/07/13/parkinsons-network-changing-lives/