Everyone needs support. Whether a person is living with a chronic disease, serving as a caregiver for someone with an illness, or just living life, everybody needs support — to be encouraged, to be lifted up, or to have someone to share their experiences with. I…
Resilient: Living Relentlessly
— Jo Gambosi
Jo is from the Grand Canyon State, Arizona. She is an accomplished professional with exceptionally creative marketing and communications abilities, and is known for health care education program planning, writing and editing, and website creative concepts and content management. Jo has held key positions at the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals of Cleveland/Case Western Reserve University Cancer Center, Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, as well as Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishing, and A.T. Still University of Health Sciences.
Jo describes herself as a creative problem-solver and team worker with a clinical nursing background and a passion to educate, empower and impact individuals & communities, all with a touch of humor and compassion. Jo can often be found spending time with friends, walking to explore the beauty of the Superstition Mountains, and serving in Christian ministry.
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My sister, Bev, has stage 3 Parkinson’s disease (PD), which causes her to experience balance and short-term memory issues, along with hand tremors. While visiting her in Ohio last month, I noticed Bev’s PD had progressed. She was having more difficulty with balance, memory, and chronic fatigue,…
Caregivers for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) know the physical and emotional toll it exacts on those who suffer from it. The financial burden from Parkinson’s disease is less well known. My sister Bev has stage 3 PD and struggles with balance, cognitive, and falling issues. She also…
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a serious illness that can have major effects on a person, both physically and emotionally. As a caregiver to my older sister, Bev, I have witnessed those changes in her after she was diagnosed in 2017. But can there be a lighter side to the disease?…
The COVID-19 pandemic has led many of us to realize how much relationships, interactions with others, and social support mean to us. We as humans were created to be social. For people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other chronic illnesses, the isolation, anxiety, and depression may feel even greater. During…
I once had to attend a team-building and stress-reducing exercise event for work that involved immersing ourselves in nature. Yes, there was tree hugging, leaf exploration, trail walking, and stargazing. The point of the exercise was for nature to help us get in touch with ourselves and each other. And…
We encounter signs almost every day of our lives. Traffic lights tell us when to stop or go, and road signs tell us which exit to take. Turn signals (when used) let us know if the car in front of us is turning left or right. Dark clouds in the…
Assistive technology (AT) can help people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) complete activities of daily living, such as cooking, eating, dressing, writing, and walking. The Assistive Technology Industry Association defines AT as “any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve…
What do you say to someone who is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD)? What words help and what words hinder? My sister Bev was diagnosed with stage 3 PD, and her caregivers, including me, have challenges in knowing what to say to her and how to say it in…
As one of my sister Bev’s caregivers, I always try to spread awareness about Parkinson’s disease (PD) to family members and friends to increase their understanding and advocate for her and others with PD. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 78, five years later, Bev has stage 3 PD. But Parkinson’s…
Now and then, especially as I’ve gotten older, my gait can be a bit unsteady. I’ve been known to drift a little to the left while walking. As we age, our balance, steadiness, strength, and agility decrease, and our chances of falling increase. For people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), balance,…
My sister Bev, who has stage 3 Parkinson’s disease (PD), has always been an animal lover. I asked her to share with me how her pets have helped her through her illnesses. “I’ve had dogs and cats all of my life and always considered them great and loving friends,…
As one of my sister Bev’s caregivers and a former nurse, I try to educate family members and friends about Parkinson’s disease (PD) to increase awareness and understanding and advocate for my sister. Bev was diagnosed in 2017. She’s now 83 and has stage 3 PD. I am…
Recently, I spent a weekend at a cabin in northern Arizona with some of my SisterChicks friends, as we call ourselves. We were escaping the Phoenix metro area, with its soaring 100-plus-degree temperatures and desert landscape, to experience the ponderosa pine trees and cooler weather. After we’d had some wine…
How do I know that my family members are receiving the best care for their Parkinson’s disease (PD)? What criteria should I consider when choosing a disease management strategy? Given my nursing background, I asked myself these questions when my sister, Bev, was diagnosed with PD in 2017. Fortunately, Bev,…
Most people associate Parkinson’s disease (PD) with shaking, tremors, balance, and gait issues. However, we don’t often consider the impact of PD on vision. According to the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), vision issues may cause a number of symptoms. Not every person with PD experiences these issues, but…
I was 12 when my father died and 17 when my mother passed away. My sister, Beverly, became my legal guardian. I’m not sure she knew what was expected of her at the time while caring for a teen who was devastated by the loss of her parents, but I…
Kick up your heels and get ready: A unique adventure awaits, and your shaking, trembling, and balance issues won’t stop you! Dance classes have emerged as a means to improve motor skills and cognitive abilities for those with Parkinson’s disease (PD), while also boosting their personal artistic expression. According to…
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