Today, I learned about a hero. His name is Tony and though his name may never be a household word and you may not recognize him on the street, he is a true hero in my book. Today he is undergoing experimental DBS Plus surgery.
We live in an incredible time of medical advances. Every day scientists find new treatments and sometimes even cures for horrible diseases. Along that journey, real people are volunteering to try out these treatments before they are proven to help or not. These heroes are real folks like you and me suffering from a plethora of illnesses. Today, I thank God for Tony and for his courage. I thank God for those who have been there before him getting poked and prodded in the name of research. I thank God for the doctors that are in the middle of the battle with us and refuse to give up. Tony, you are a brave, valiant warrior. You have a prayer warrior in me that is forever thankful. I pray that if the opportunity ever presents itself, I can be as brave as Tony.
I recently lost a good friend. Never would I have imagined that I would become such good buddies with a man old enough to be my dad. I met Tom over seven years ago in a Rock Steady Boxing class. I entered class as a shy, teary-eyed, newly diagnosed mess who didn't like to sweat and had never boxed. Tom quickly took me under his wing, introduced me to the movers and shakers in the local Parkinson's community and eventually recognized a potential in me to further help the community. Within a year, with the encouragement of Tom and others, I became a certified Rock Steady coach. Tom and I would go to the same conferences and seek out the newly diagnosed. Ever the salesman, Tom would ask me if I "closed the deal," meaning, did I convince someone to come to an exercise class or attend a support group. Tom knew the benefits of attending these groups and he wanted everyone else to know also. He just wanted everyone to live the best life possible, even while living
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