Coeur d'Alene support group hosting upcoming events for patients, families, caregivers
DEVIN WEEKS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 days, 15 hours AGO
Devin Weeks is a third-generation North Idaho resident. She holds an associate degree in journalism from North Idaho College and a bachelor's in communication arts from Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene. Devin embarked on her journalism career at the Coeur d'Alene Press in 2013. She worked weekends for several years, covering a wide variety of events and issues throughout Kootenai County. Devin now mainly covers K-12 education and the city of Post Falls. She enjoys delivering daily chuckles through the Ghastly Groaner and loves highlighting local people in the Fast Five segment that runs in CoeurVoice. Devin lives in Post Falls with her husband and their three eccentric and very needy cats. | March 13, 2025 1:07 AM
On and off.
In the world of Parkinson's disease, "on" is often used to communicate that medication is working and symptoms are under control.
"'Off' is when your symptoms are not necessarily controlled, and every Parkinson's patient's 'off' is somewhat unique to them," Jennifer Martin, a drug representative from Abbvie Pharmaceuticals, said March 6 during a Coeur d'Alene Parkinson's Support Group meeting at the Coeur d'Alene Elks Lodge.
"I've heard some say that they just get really weak, they're tired, anxious," Martin said. "The cardinal symptoms are the tremors, the sickness, the slow mobility. It's important to understand 'on' and 'off' because that's actually what we use in the clinical trials to measure efficacy of medication."
Martin spoke to the support group to share information about Vyalev, a subcutaneous pump that releases Parkinson's medication similar to an insulin pump for those living with diabetes. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, this new medication distribution option is designed to help people who have trouble managing their symptoms or struggle with traditional medication.
A main focus of the Coeur d'Alene Parkinson's Support Group is for attendees to share their experiences, emotional support and glean information from others about how they are coping, living and thriving with Parkinson's.
"If you've met one Parkinson's patient, you've met one Parkinson's patient because everyone's symptoms are so different," Coeur d'Alene Parkinson's Support Group Vice President Willynne Fenton said.
Founded in 2006 and a nonprofit since 2012, the support group is for people with Parkinson’s, their families and caregivers. Meetings are held in a casual setting normally the first Thursday of every month from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 1170 W. Prairie Ave. Speakers from the medical community are often in attendance.
Mark Derry of Coeur d'Alene has been living with Parkinson's for 12 years. He is the only one in his family he knows of to be diagnosed.
"(It helps) just to know there's other people that are like me," said Derry, who has been to the support group meetings a few times. "I can come in here, I can stumble around and shake around and be like everyone else. Even though they're different, the symptoms, we're all the same with the same problem."
The Coeur d'Alene Parkinson's Support Group also hosts a Women with Parkinson's Support Group the third Thursday of every month from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at MacKenzie River Pizza, 405 W. Canfield Ave., Coeur d'Alene; the Caregivers' Support Group, which meets throughout the year; Moving to the Music exercise sessions the second, third and fourth Thursdays of the month from 12:15 to 1 p.m. at the Elks Lodge; and Music and Wellness, led by a music therapist to help Parkinson's patients increase the volume of their voices and aid with the clarity of their speech. Music and Wellness meets on the second, third and fourth Thursday of the month from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Elks Lodge.
Music and Wellness and Moving to the Music will be held today and March 27.
Women with Parkinson's will next meet Thursday.
Bardenay Restaurant and Distillery will support the Coeur d'Alene Parkinson's Support Group with a fundraiser April 21 from 5 to 9 p.m. by donating 20% of all proceeds to the nonprofit. A Living Well with Parkinson's speaker event is also set for May 2, more information to come.
Info: cdaparkinsons.com
MORE FRONT-PAGE-SLIDER STORIES
Chicks n’ Chaps gives Beacon Cancer Care Foundation $10K boost
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 2 months, 2 weeks ago
ARTICLES BY DEVIN WEEKS
Mom Prom will be April 12 at Coeur d'Alene Eagles
Mom Prom will be April 12 at Coeur d'Alene Eagles
Sometimes, she might only be known as "Mother," "Mama," "Mommy" or "Mom." She wakes her kids up for school, makes meals for the family, does the dishes, folds the laundry and tucks everyone in at night. She gives the best hugs and kisses away the pain from bumped heads and scraped knees. Her advice is wisdom. Her support is unwavering. Her love is unconditional. Yes, she is Mom, but she's also a daughter, a sister, a wife, a girlfriend and a woman who sometimes needs to kick up her heels and be reminded of her awesomeness. Two words: Mom Prom.
Milken Award-winning educator shares teaching style, tips during lab sessions in Coeur d'Alene
Milken Award-winning educator shares teaching style, tips during lab sessions
He walked around his colorful and ambiently lit classroom, stopping at different desks to check in with small student groups as his pupils worked their way to cylinder volume answers using the V=πr^2h formula.
Coeur d'Alene support group hosting upcoming events for patients, families, caregivers
Coeur d'Alene support group hosting upcoming events for patients, families, caregivers
On and off. In the world of Parkinson's disease, "on" is often used to communicate that medication is working and symptoms are under control. "'Off' is when your symptoms are not necessarily controlled, and every Parkinson's patient's 'off' is somewhat unique to them," Jennifer Martin, a drug representative from Abbvie Pharmaceuticals, said March 6 during a Coeur d'Alene Parkinson's Support Group meeting at the Coeur d'Alene Elks Lodge.