This week we have the incomparable Cherryl Choi. Cherryl has been a YOPD carepartner for 18 years so she really knows what she’s talking about. She’s been through so much with her husband, Jimmy, and together, they have become a force in the YOPD world to be reckoned with. In fact, Jimmy encourages everyone out there with PD to go ahead and try. He has become a public figure himself, providing motivation and physical challenges for his fellow PD people. While Jimmy Choi is certainly an entity unto himself, Cherryl is truly his better half and person behind his success and I don’t think he’d mind me saying that.

To learn more about Jimmy Choi, visit: https://www.michaeljfox.org/bio/jimmy-choi

Jimmy's website: https://www.thefoxninja.com/

You can find Jimmy and Cherryl Choi on Social Media:

Cherryl Choi

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cherryl_choi/

Jimmy Choi

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jcfoxninja/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jcfoxninja/

What do you do when you work with patients with neurological illnesses all day to hearing your husband has Parkinson's disease himself? Meet Ellen Blake, an amazing wife and mother to 3 whose husband was diagnosed with PD at the age of 38. Ellen works in the field of neurorehabilitation and describes the juxtaposition of the similarities between her occupation and her husband’s medical diagnosis. Ellen uses her creativity and skills as an avid DIYer as a form of self-care and keeping her own interests as a priority in her life to help her and her husband navigate Parkinson's disease in the best possible way.

You can find Ellen and all her creations on Instagram @the_mama_that_makes.

Her husband, Dave, is @the_dad_that_rocks.

Ever wonder what is the connection between rock climbing and Parkinson's disease? Molly Donelan, Director of Programs and Events at Sportrock Climbing Centers with two locations just outside of Washington, DC, gives us in-depth insight into this sport's benefits and challenges for the YOPD population. Molly's enthusiasm and dedication to climbing has taken her to the mountains and cliffs of Mallorca, Spain, Orco Valley, Italy, and Joshua Tree, California, just to name a few. Care partners, for us, indoor rock climbing may just be the way to not only motivate our person with Parkinson's to get moving and stay active but also to help around the house (win, win), as you'll hear in this episode. Molly and I share a few laughs along the way, so listen in to how rock climbing can make everyday movements easier for those afflicted by PD and the mental strength that it has given to so many people.

Learn more about Sportrock Climbing Centers:

https://sportrock.com/

Blog post on Parkinson's disease and climbing by Molly Donelan:

https://sportrock.com/parkinsons-and-adaptive-climbing-in-the-climbing-gym/

Article on benefits of high-intensity exercise on Parkinson's disease:

Schenkman M, Moore CG, Kohrt WM, et al. Effect of High-Intensity Treadmill Exercise on Motor Symptoms in Patients With De Novo Parkinson Disease: A Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Neurol. 2018;75(2):219–226. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.3517

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2664948

Article on physical activity's effect on depressive symptoms in Parkinson's disease:

Wu PL, Lee M, Huang TT. Effectiveness of physical activity on patients with depression and Parkinson's disease: A systematic review. PLoS One. 2017 Jul 27;12(7):e0181515. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181515. PMID: 28749970; PMCID: PMC5531507.

My guest today is Tanya Cluff. Tanya is a a Philadelphia native and a proud graduate of The University of Mary Washington. Tanya, along with her spouse, Paul, founded Can't Shake Me Inc. (CSM) in September 2019. Tanya currently serves as Deputy Executive Officer for this nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase awareness about Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease and provide health and wellness services designed for this community. Tanya and Paul go above and beyond to ensure that people living with YOPD have exercise resources available to them through online classes, an abundant YouTube channel, and even providing equipment to people who may not be in a financial position to do so for themselves. 

When Tanya is not leading CSM, working a full-time job with the US government, and recording a podcast with me, she loves to travel, utilize many spiritual tools like books, meditation, music and physical fitness. A foodie at heart, Tanya enjoys visiting new restaurants and exploring new recipes posted on Pinterest!

You can learn more about CSM on their website, YouTube, and Instagram.  

Do you feel like you have to do it all? We raise kids, further our career, take care of our aging parents, and oh, help our husband manage his Parkinson's disease. Is there anything we don't do? Michelle N. Goldberg, LCSW-C has a deep connection to Parkinson's disease on both sides of her own family and has a particular interest in care partner health and wellness in her professional and personal life. Michelle and I discuss specific concerns YOPD care partners have and specific ways to help cope with the stress this diagnosis brings on us and our families during this busy life stage we are in.

I've talked with several other YOPD wives and one thing that I hear over and over again is that our husbands don't know what's going on with us. Why? Perhaps it's not wanting to burden him with our own feelings or bring any negativity into an already tense situation. Every couple is different so I wanted to take this opportunity to verbally relay some of those thoughts and feelings we have towards our husbands and towards the PD so we can all have this open dialogue as care partners with our husbands. I wrote an open letter to all the husbands with YOPD, including my own, as a collection of thoughts from us wives. Fellow wives, I hope I do right by you. And husbands, when you're ready, listen up.