Page created by: Theresa Bemko

Help us honor Lucille by supporting families facing Parkinson's. Many people don't know how this disease touches everyone who loves someone with it. Your kindness in Mom's name can bring hope and help to families who need it most.

Mom was the heart of our family. She made Sunday dinners special. She never missed a birthday. Her favorite color was red, and she always had something cooking on the stove. She laughed at the smallest things, filling our home with joy.
She loved going to the casino with Dad. On her last trip to California, she won on one of her final plays. The smile on her face was pure happiness. She and Dad dressed up for Halloween parties every year at her sister's house. Those memories warm our hearts.
Around 2018, we noticed Mom's toe tapping. We didn't understand why. On our girls cruise that year, she needed a wheelchair. Looking back, Parkinson's was already there.
Her hand started shaking next. The doctor said it was probably Parkinson's. It took us a couple of tries to find the right specialist and he gave us answers and medication four years ago.
Slowly, Parkinson's changed Mom. She couldn't move around her kitchen easily. She forgot recipes and sometimes our names. But she remembered stories from when she was young and sweet times with Dad.
Three years ago, the disease got worse. Mom started seeing people who weren't there. She'd talk with them. In her last months, conversations became very hard. The woman who filled rooms with laughter could barely find words.
We stayed close. We visited often. We made sure Mom and Dad had what they needed. Those final months were difficult. We learned to agree with whatever Mom saw or said. To her, it all made sense. Fighting it only hurt everyone.
Parkinson's takes more than people realize. It steals thoughts, words, and simple abilities. It breaks families' hearts as they watch their loved one fade away.
Instead of flowers, please consider donating to the Michael J. Fox Foundation in Mom's memory. This disease hurts whole families. Maybe donations in Mom's name will help find better treatments. Maybe other families won't have to watch their loved ones disappear like we did.
Mom always helped others. She'd want her story to help families facing what we faced. We miss her laugh, her Sunday dinners, and her love. But her caring spirit lives on through the hope these donations bring.