By Loretta Humble/Around the Town
If I had been paying more attention to what is going on in my own company, I would have already been writing about it, because it is a really big deal. Now it’s been in all the papers, so I’m behind the times on this, but I’m going to tell you about it anyhow, because maybe you missed it.
The short version is this: a man named Gary Sobol, who had Parkinson’s so bad he was basically helpless, decided he wasn’t ready to give up. On his own, he researched and developed a program of exercises that gradually got him back on his feet, and doing just about everything he ever did. Now he has had great success teaching other people how to do the same.
Our big news is he came here from Colorado and taught it to Cedar Lake Home Health and Hospice, and now we are going to share what we learned.
Here is a little bit about Gary Sobol. He had been an athlete, in his early 60s still running in marathons. After he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2008, doctors told him to stop exercising, because of the danger of falling … so he gave up working out. And he quickly went down, eventually unable to sign checks, needing help to even get out of bed. One day he says, he decided this was ridiculous and started researching. He discovered exercise was his friend, not his enemy. He started out slow, took exercise classes, and gradually got his life back. He learned which exercises worked and which ones didn’t. He got to where he was able to hike and run again. He even climbed a couple of mountains.
He knew then he had something to share, so he starting teaching, and learning a lot more. Now he has founded the GZSobol Parkinson’s Network, and is traveling all over the country certifying medical people to help those with Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases to get better like he has. His program is in 11 states and 33 cities now. Cedar Lake Home Health and Hospice is the first to offer it in Texas. He certified 10 of our nurses and therapists.
I’m proud to tell you Cedar Lake will offer the first GZSobol’s Parkinson’s Network class on June 6 at 2:30 at Family Fitness in Gun Barrel City. It is for anyone with Parkinson’s, MS, Stroke, or TBI.
If you know anybody this could benefit, please tell them to check it out.
I got to meet Mr. Sobol while he was here. I was extremely impressed with the man. You can still see signs of the Parkinson’s, as there hasn’t been a cure found yet, but at 78 he is happy, healthy-looking and full of life. He gets around great, and he leads all the exercises he teaches. He may not have licked Parkinson’s, but he has sure backed it into a corner in his own life. And his mission is to spread what he has learned as far and wide as he can.
On a personal note, I have to tell you Mr. Sobol has already done me some good. I am his same age. Sometimes I have a few aches and pains, or just feel kind of draggy, and I get to thinking it is time to just sit down and get old. But then I look at Gary Sobol, who was practically bed-bound at 70, but who had the determination to get up and have another good go at life. Now at 78 he is having the time of his life, making a real difference in the world. I look at him and I think, why not? I’m pretty sure I can’t make a big a splash as he has made, but he has got me to thinking I probably have at least one more useful and fun adventure I can have. So he’s got me looking for it. I’ll let you know if I come up with something.
Note: The first Texas GZSobol’s Parkinson’s Network class will be held June 6 at 12:30 at Family Fitness in Gun Barrel City.
There is no charge, and is for anyone with Parkinson’s, MS, Stroke, or TBI. For more information call 903 275 9460.