Living, Giving, Thriving

To maintain her health, Lou proactively manages her condition. "I get massages regularly. I do yoga. I work out and stay active. I play golf, get acupuncture, work in my gardens and do what I can to stay moving," she explains.

After being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Lou didn't know what to think or where to turn. "It was traumatic. In terms of knowing what the future might hold, I was scared," she says. But once she found Turning Point, all of that changed. "The support I found at Turning Point saved my life."

From her first visit, Lou was at home at Turning Point. "I wasn't quite ready for a walker or wheelchair. I had the business of living and thriving to get on with," she says. "I started taking every class I could."

The classes, support groups and other resources offered by Turning Point focus on more than physical health. Lou participated in a variety of programs the organization offered, but her favorite was the garden. "I oversee the garden," she explains. "It's a hope garden, and it's beautiful!" From a simple spot with a few plants, Lou transformed the area into a serene retreat away from life's troubles and worries.

Lou also teaches a class at Turning Point called "Managing the Emotions of Living with a Neurological Condition."

"When you are diagnosed with a neurological disorder, it doesn't just affect your physical health. It may cause disabilities, which can cause self-esteem issues, tension between you and your family members or anger at anyone in your path. Even those who simply experience limitations may feel a loss of independence and, then, depleted self worth. Relationships sometimes change when someone receives a diagnosis. Dealing with all these emotions is hard, and my class attempts to help," she says.

A past member of the Turning Point board of directors, Lou is still very involved with the organization. "I'm there at least once or twice a week, and usually more!" she says.