Seeing Death Clearly Together For Sharon: George Ackerman’s Story of Love and Advocacy
In this episode, George Ackerman, also known as “Sharon's son George”, shares his deeply personal journey of caring for his mother, who battled Parkinson's disease.
He lost his mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman, on 1/1/2020 due to Parkinson's Disease. To honor his mother and continue helping in the Parkinson's awareness cause, George started TogetherForSharon® as a family initiative to keep Sharon Riff Ackerman's memory alive and to spread the message of Parkinson's Awareness and hope for a cure. Today, https://www.togetherforsharon.com/ reaches thousands across the country for PD Awareness.
George discussed the importance of early diagnosis, noting the Michael J. Fox Foundation's progress in identifying a biomarker for Parkinson's. He hopes this research will lead to a simple blood test for early detection, which could significantly impact treatment and quality of life.
The conversation also touched on the emotional toll of caregiving and advocacy. George shared how his mother's hallucinations and delusions added to the difficulty of her care, ultimately leading to heartbreaking moments. Despite the challenges, he continues to fight in her memory, advocating for better support and awareness for those affected by Parkinson's.
He highlighted the importance of self-care for caregivers, acknowledging his own struggles with balancing advocacy and personal well-being. George's story underscores the necessity of community support and the power of collective voices in the fight against Parkinson's.
George remains dedicated to his mission, driven by his mother's memory and the desire to prevent others from feeling alone in their journey. His advocacy extends to supporting the National Plan to End Parkinson's Disease, urging listeners to reach out to their senators for support.
George is on a mission, and nothing will stop him until there is a cure. Join him and share in the mission toward a cure at https://www.togetherforsharon.com
Author of "A Son’s Journey from Parkinson’s Disease Caregiver to Advocate." To order your copy, click https://a.co/d/aWk7A3K. Available in Kindle/eBook and Hardcover at https://www.togetherforsharon.com/my-book/.
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