Page created by: Zoe and Family

Ida Edelman, my grandmother, is 78 and has Parkinson's.
My grandmother is sweet, fun, and an all-around nice person. She is very caring and she loves spending time with her children and 5 grandchildren. Most people who meet my grandma say she's one of the nicest people they have ever met.
Grandma spent most of her life teaching and helping others. She was a teacher for children with learning disabilities for many years in New Jersey. She was loved by all of her students and she cared for them deeply. Grandma enjoyed teaching the kids that other people found difficult and hard to teach. She was the teacher parents called to thank after the kids they thought would never finish grade school, got into college. Later she was a principal for a Friends School on Long Island. She was adored by all the students and faculty. I remember going to her retirement party.
Grandma has always loved theater and one of her joys is sharing that love with all of her grandchildren. Even though she's disabled and it's hard for her to walk, she loves taking my brother and me to Broadway shows. She took me to my first Broadway show, The Little Mermaid, when I was 5 years old. And just last month, she took my brother and me to see School Of Rock on Broadway.
She is very generous and loves to give gifts to all of her grandchildren. She loves to shop for clothes and always buys pretty clothing for me and my family.
She can't speak very well, but I still like talking to her. I asked her what it's like to have Parkinson's. She told me of the difficulties, such as needing to use a walker, and that her hands don't open anymore. She can barely use them to hold things.
My mom says that Grandma and I are a lot alike. She used to love to bake and cook, just like I do. Now, she tells Grandpa what to do in the kitchen, and he is her hands. She is also amazingly smart and has a positive attitude. She loves to read and can read faster than anyone I know. My mom says I have a mind like hers.
I love her with all my heart and soul.