Page created by: Stacey Taylor

Rosemary Martinis was diagnosed with Parkinson's 10 years ago, as a librarian assistant she started to notice that her handwriting had started to become small. Upon her diagnosis she continued to work at the library for 3 more years until at the age of 75 she had to retire as it became too hard to write and her ability to drive back/forth to work became a concern as her motor skills were slowing. In February 2017 her beloved husband Libertis "Bert" Martinis sustained a fall which resulted in 27 stitches to his face, it also opened up to the family how much care he was doing for Rose - cooking, cleaning, laundry, driving them both, and their daughters Stacey and Loretta intervened and helped them get a day aide as they were living in NY and their children were in NV and CO. They also had the hard conversation - assisted living. Rose had become so co-dependent on Bert she didn't even know it. She was unable to sit or stand from sitting without help, needed help getting in/out of bed and putting clothing on - just old age they thought. She and Bert moved to Nevada in April of 2017 to live closer to their daughter Stacey and only 90min flight from Loretta. Good thing, as by the end of June, Rosemary was completely wheelchair bound. She traveled to NV using a walker but unfortunately it didn't last long. It took 3 1/2 more years for Parkinson's to take her from her family and she fought it most of the way continuing PT up until two weeks before she passed away. She has also tried many of the options that the renowned Lou Rouvo Brain Institute offered but sadly none of the new cutting edge medication provided any relief. It is her families hope that research finds a way to get to the root of this horrible disease and find a solution that allows for a cure.