When Esther Smith's doctor told her that she had been diagnosed with Parkinson's, she felt as if her life had become like a jigsaw puzzle. The pieces were dumped and jumbled in front of her.
"I was scared," she said. "I was going to have to figure out how to put my life together and keep moving forward. I knew nothing about Parkinson's."
Parkinson's is a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement and is degenerative.
The Metairie resident, however, drew strength from other people who had also been diagnosed with Parkinson's and were still living active lives.
"So many people encouraged me," she said. "I also located various kinds of literature about Parkinson's and that helped me too."
When Esther Smith's doctor told her that she had been diagnosed with Parkinson's, she felt as if her life had become like a jigsaw puzzle. The pieces were dumped and jumbled in front of her.
When I come to the walk, I know I'm not alone," said Steve Casamento, a Kenner resident, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's. "And we're all working together for a common cause."
Casamento's daughter, Leslie Ruiz, beamed with pride as she stood next to her father.
"I'm here to support my dad," she said. "It's also great to meet all these wonderful people who are his friends. He's always talking about them. It's wonderful that so many people come together for such a good cause."
The walk drew a variety of volunteers including more than a dozen of the NOLA Bombshells, a dance group based in Metairie.
"It's so inspiring and uplifting to see all these people, even those who don't have Parkinson's, working together," said Mandy May, a member of the Bombshells. "In New Orleans, we party for LSU and Saints football games as well as on many other occasions. This is a day when people are coming together and having a party that is filled with purpose and meaning."
Proceeds from the walk benefited the Davis Phinney Foundation, which is located in Boulder, Co. The foundation was established in 2004 by Davis Phinney, a former professional road bicycle racer and Olympic bronze medalist. Phinney was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2000. The foundation develops programs and invests in materials and supports research that encourages health and wellness for people living with Parkinson's disease.
Dr. Kara Beasley, chair of the foundation's board of directors and Julie Buderus, vice-president of development for the foundation were on hand for the walk.
"Parkinson's can be an isolating disease," Beasley said. "Often people who have Parkinson's don't want to be around other people. Events like this walk, however, can bring Parkinson's patients out into the community. For me, it's inspiring to see so many Parkinson's patients participating in the walk."
Harahan's Michelle Lane, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's 17 years ago, served as director of the walk.
"The walk brings people together," she said. "Some people think of Parkinson's as the shaking disease. But the walk is a way for us to show that people with Parkinson's can live active lives and live well with Parkinson's."
Said Hammond's Chuck DeBlieux: "There is a strong bond among those who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's. And it's really evident at the walk. You see so many of the same people at the walk every year. It's an opportunity for us to encourage each other."
Many of the walk's participants were friends of people with Parkinson's. Among those were Allison Muniz, a friend of Smith's.
"I believe it's important that we support our friends," Muniz said. "It's very touching to see hundreds of people gathering like this to encourage and support each other."
For some, the annual Louisiana Walks for Parkinson's has become a family event.
Debbie Sapir Tuck, who lives in Birmingham, and her sister, Destrehan's Susan Sapir Fields, and their father, Frank Sapir, have participated in the walk every year.
Frank's wife and Fields and Tuck's mother, Rosina Sapir, was diagnosed with Parkinson's six years ago. She died last summer.
"Even though our mother passed away, we are still dedicated to supporting Parkinson's research and helping Parkinson's patients," Fields said. "The walk has always held a special place in my heart. It's even more special now."
Tuck said: "We do it to honor our mother and all the wonderful people we've made friends with whose lives have been affected by Parkinson's."
"Hopefully one day there will be a cure for Parkinson's," Frank said, adamantly. "Meanwhile, we will keep having walks, and doing everything we can to support those with Parkinson's and helping them lead live active lives."
http://blog.nola.com/eastjefferson/2017/10/walk_for_parkinsons.html
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