My Story by Jeanie
My grandmother Ruth, a multi charitable humanitarian, is peacefully at rest, after battling Parkinson’s disease (PD) like a warrior until her last breath. The moment she passed my heart was torn apart, one side filled with heartache, while the other died with her. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, yet love leaves a memory no one can steal.
You taught me that the things that hurt you the most, teach us the greatest lessons in life. Remembering you is easy, I do it every day, but missing you is such heartache, that I wish would go away. I am her first born granddaughter, who will continue her legacy of true love for others through humanitarian efforts.
For more than two decades Parkinson's occupied her nervous system, affecting movement, balance and cognition. She refused to allow the disease to affect any part of her daily routine. My grandmother strongly believed in the power of prayer, the lord and the strength of the words in which we speak into the universe. Her cognitive ability, was a gold mine. She continued to be the true matriarch of our family, not allowing medications to affect her thought process, ability to make decisions or her personality.
Every day, for 92 years, she woke up with her daily affirmations, showered, pick out what she wanted to wear, groomed herself, with lipstick and blush and headed the kitchen table for breakfast.
Afterwards, she would sit in her back room, which was a place of peace for her, as the sun shined through the windows of the house. She read her favorite books, listened to music and would pray, as her nursing assistant and pastor would pray together for the healing of her family, friends and those in need. The days had lessened, and ceased, as she tried to write in her journal every day, but the internal & hand tremors, became to tiresome.
Once Hospice of New York began assisting our family, the simplest tasks such as speaking, eating or understanding words became impossible. She was in constant state of pain, paranoia, while experiencing signs of dementia, and hallucinations. She was unable to identify reality vs. visions, dreams, and/ or hallucinations.
But she fought fight like a warrior, refusing to give up. Hospice doctors and nurses told us they hadn’t seen a woman fight for six weeks, three of them with no food or liquids. Sadly, she didn't want to leave me, as our bond, was unexplainable, as I could feel her call for me if I was not around.
My grandmother was a woman of extreme strength, courage and love who may be gone from our sight, but is at peace. She held herself with dignity, pride and grace that shines through all of us who were lucky enough to be a part of her loving family. Thank for teaching me not about the love of power, but about the POWER OF LOVE!
My mom has donated to PRF for sometime. She has been receiving "personal ..intense" letters from the chairman of the board Mr. Hoffheimer. We will no longer contribute to a charity that intimidates donors and victims of Parkensons. You should be ashamed of yourself. Tricia tanguay
Parkinson Research Foundation funds Parkinson Place which serves the Parkinson Community around the Sarasota Fl area. I found Parkinson Place by a commercial on tv and decided to try it. It was the best decision I had ever made! The staff was so kind and the free classes help me keep going! I have finally found a place where I feel I belong.
Review from Guidestar
Please look at Charity Navigator for yourself, but here are the stats from the past year which will be even better this year:
Financial Performance Metrics
Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity’s budget spent on the programs
and services it delivers) 55.0%
Administrative Expenses 13.6%
Fundraising Expenses 31.2% (due to mail as the main fundraising method)
Fundraising Efficiency $0.34
Primary Revenue Growth 0.4%
Program Expenses Growth 32.7%
Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.69
Review from Guidestar
I visited Parkinson Place which is a project funded by Parkinson Research Foundation. I was very impressed by the kind nature of the staff and the incredible number of free services they provide for Parkinson Sufferers and their caregivers.
I have a dear friend who has Parkinson's and Parkinson Place takes great pains to help him have better quality of life!
I don't know much about how funding works but I can tell you that this is a tremendous service to the Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte county Parkinson community.
If you want to see for yourself and not rely on heresy look at their websites www.parkinsonplace.org and parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
73% Fundraising & Admin. 27% Program Expenses per CharityNavigaor. NO THANKS!
Michael J. Fox's foundation may have a bit of "bloat" in exec. salaries, but they ARE in line with most others, and their money goes to the cause. Numerous other Parkinsons charities also seem to "put their money where their mouth is" as well. One can experience better stewardship in other Parkinsons alternatives.
Since having joined the PRF team a little over 3 years ago I am amazed sometimes how much we have grown as an organization and how far we have come. Every time I participate in one of the educational programs I am overcome with fascination to see how hungry and appreciative the participants. With the help of a great team from all across the country and throughout the Parkinson's community we have been able to provide many Parkinson's patients with a new lease on life. The smiles and chuckles make the countless hours of relentless planning, development and research all worth it.