Parkinson's Recipe for Recovery

Last weekend, I had the privilege to attend Howard Shifke's workshop "Parkinson's  Recipe for Recovery" in Tampa.  It was an all day workshop and Howard presented his Recipe for Recovery which cured him of Parkinson's.  There were 16 participants and all were interested in recovering from Parkinson's by being proactive, rather than going to the effect of the condition.  The workshop was well organized and well presented.  Along with the workshop came a well written manual  explaining the recipe for recovery that Howard used to cure himself from Parkinson's.  Howard now consults Parkinson's folks all over the world on his method and reports several folks who have fully recovered.  I strongly urge Parkinson's folks to attend Howard's workshop and become part of a movement of folks who recover from Parkinson's rather than just progressively declining in health. Here is Howard Shifke's website:

http://www.fightingparkinsonsdrugfree.com/

I have personally been using Howard's Recipe for recovery since April of last year.  When I learned about it, I said to myself that I owed it to myself and my family to do this program and try to recover.  I had two goals in mind. One, to reduce my medication intake of Sinimet (Levidopa/Carbidopa) and secondly to get off medication completely.  The first goal has been reached.  There are days I can reduce my intake of medication by 20-50%.  My other goal has not been reached, but I can say I crave doing the Recipe daily and it makes me feel vibrant and at cause over the condition. 
At my last visit to my Neurologist, I asked him if I can reduce the medication and he said "absolutely".  It is a symptom based medication and there is no need to take it, if you do not need it.
One thing I realized from Howard's workshop is that he had an incredible amount of faith to be healed and prayed to God quite a bit.  I think the miracle of his cure, was a result of his faith in balancing and healing the mind, body and soul.  Another, aspect of his cure was the faithful support of his wife, Sally, who was present at the workshop.
Howard has devoted his life to the Parkinson's community world wide and we are fortunate to have him on our side. Howard, thank you.
I wanted to conclude this blog with a story of faith.  One of my mentor's and teacher's at Rabbinical school developed cancer at the prime of his life. He was one of the most promising minds in Jewish religious scholarship. He was also one of the finest human beings I have ever known.  As he lay in the hospital breathing his last few breaths, he somehow spelled out in Hebrew what was his last word before the scholar entered heaven:  "faith".

Here is a picture of those who attended the Tampa workshop including Howard and his wife, Sally:

 

U-Step Stablizer/Walker

I received the U-Step Stabilizer several days ago and I wanted to review it and recommend it for Parkinson's folks who need stabilizing and support especially during off times.  The U-Step is a cut above all the other walkers I have seen.  First of all, it has a laser light that projects a line on the floor which tricks the brain to break out of a freeze or shuffle.  Secondly, it is designed for stability and facilitates turns. I would highly recommend the U-Step for Parkinson's folks who have difficultly walking, have balance issues, freezing, and gate stuttering. It folds up for portability and is very well made.  Here is the link to learn more about it and to order it:

http://www.ustep.com/index.htm

I borrowed a laser cane which is sold by the same company from a friend and found it was also helpful with freezing and gate stuttering.  I will be ordering one of those and will review it at a future date.

DANCE FOR PARKINSON'S

Last weekend, June 8^th-10^th, I had the very special opportunity to attend the Dance for Parkinson’s workshop at the University of Florida campus in Gainesville.  Last summer, when I was in Denver,  I was introduced to Dance for Parkinson’s when I attended part of the same workshop held there, but I attended as a Parkinson’s person interested in dance.  I was very impressed with Dance for PD last summer in Denver and this time I had the opportunity to attend the workshop as a Parkinson’s facilitator interested in facilitating a Dance for PD class at the Cypress Alternative in Largo, Fl. where I work in the Life Enrichment Department and where I volunteer in the Parkinson’s Outreach Program.

Most of the participants in the Dance for PD workshop were young dancing professionals interested in sharing the talents with the Parkinson’s community.  The participants were very talented and I learned a great deal from all of them.  The two dance teachers who led the workshop were:  Misty Owens from Dallas and David Leventhal from Brooklyn.  They are both founding teachers of the Dance for PD program and very skilled as professional dancers.  We also had a chance to tour the state-of-the –art University of Florida Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration where many research studies are being conducted for Parkinson’s.  The participants met with Dr. Irene Malaty of the Center who gave an introductory presentation about Parkinson’s which was very well organized and informative.  The workshop was hosted by Jill Sonke who is the co-founder and Director of the Center for Arts in Healthcare Research and Education at UF.  The workshop was held at the McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion at the University.

I recommend every support group and Parkinson’s outreach program to bring this Dance for PD workshop to their respective communities or to contact the Dance for PD office to see if there is a facilitator that can offer Dance for PD for your community or if there is a facilitator in your community that could attend the Dance for PD workshop and facilitate a Dance for PD class in your community.  The website for Dance for PD is:

http://danceforparkinsons.org/

RECOVERY FROM PARKINSON'S

On June 3rd at 5PM Eastern Time, Ian McGarrity and I hosted an on-line Parkinson's chat as part of the Parkinson's recovery movement. Yes, you heard right, it is possible to recover from Parkinson's in spite of what they tell you. Here is the Parkinson's Recovery website: http://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com/ There is also an internet radio program entitled Recovery from Parkinson's at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/parkinsons-recovery Dr. Robert Rodgers is the host of this radio program and I was on it several months ago talking about the Cypress Alternative, a Parkinson's Outreach Program in Largo, Fl. Robert is hosting a Parkinson's Recovery Summit Conference this month and there is more about it on his website. The Sunday Connection is a web chat meeting held every Sunday by different facilitators who talk about alternative ways to recover from Parkinson's. There is a very nominal subscription fee ($5. per month) and one can subscribe to Sunday Connections at: http://www.sundays.parkinsonsrecovery.com  This is an effort to make folks aware of alternative treatments for Parkinson's.

One of the leading Parkinson's facilitators and mentors is Howard Shifke from Tampa who has recovered completely from Parkinson's and you can read his story and view his Recipe for Recovery at: http://www.fightingparkinsonsdrugfree.com/

I personally have followed the Recipe for Recovery on a daily basis since mid-April with a couple of goals in mind: one to reduce intake of Parkinson's medication and to eventually recover from Parkinson's. So far, I have been able to go without medication for 24 hours on some days and have been able to reduce my intake of Parkinson's medication by 50% on other days. This is big! This is not a quick fix and one has to invest time and effort on a daily basis over the long haul to see results. I know I owe it to my family, friends and myself to give this my best shot. Even knowing that I am doing something about my condition, rather than succumbing to Parkinson's without any hope, is therapeutic. It is much easier to take a pill, but the medications offer very little hope for recovery.
I challenge all who have Parkinson's to consider following the Recipe for Recovery and I welcome any questions or comments about

Jim I. Completes Radio Interview

A Parkinson's patient I work with closely was recently interviewed and the interview is scheduled to broadcast this week.  The story can be found at:

http://blogtalkradio.com/parkinsons-recovery

PAINTINGS FROM OUR NEW PARKINSON'S WATERCOLOR CLASS

What is it that I do as a "Life Enrichment Assistant"??

Everyday Angel by Rebecca Ambroe

I am an everyday Angel…

Where there is Sadness, I bring Laughter.

Where there is Silence, I bring Music.

Where there is Suffering, I bring Comfort.

Where there is Boredom, I bring Purpose.

Where there is Boredom, I bring Purpose.

Where there is Confusion, I bring Clarity.

Where there is Loneliness, I bring Company.

Where there is Emptiness, I bring Life.

For I am…a giver of hugs and kisses.

A singer of songs and music.

A teller of jokes and stories.

A player of games and exercise.

A baker of cookies and cakes.

A planner of parties and socials.

A memory for those who have forgotten.

A hand for those whose bodies have gone weak.

And I do all of this not because it is my job,

but because it is my calling.