SARASOTA – Jeffrey Arntsen hadn’t even been out of the hospital two weeks after having COVID-19, and he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
“It was really a blessing in disguise, for us, too, because we could finally put a name on it,” Jeffrey’s wife Nancy said.
Nancy Arntsen says she knew it was coming
“They’d have him walk down the hall, and they’d say, ‘No, that’s not what he has,'” she said, “but I knew that was what he has.”
Because Jeff’s brother also had Parkinson’s.
“He had it for 30 years. He and his wife lived near Duluth, Minnesota,” Jeffrey Arntsen said.
His brother recently passed away, and his wife wanted to send a big portion of his memorial donations to help Parkinson’s patients and research.
“They overwhelmingly were told that Parkinson Place in Sarasota was the best place,” Arntsen said.
They offer countless free resources and classes for those with Parkinson’s and their caregivers.
“My husband and I were recently diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. We didn’t even know we had it,” Nancy Arntsen shared with other Parkinson Place members on a Zoom call.
Now the Arntsen’s have a family who knows exactly what they’re going through.
“He’s part of the men’s group only, so he’s getting to know some of the fellas there,” Nancy said.
Since starting his medication, she says Jeff’s only gotten better.
Parkinson Place still offers more than 40 free programs via Zoom, and when they officially reopen their doors, it’ll be upwards of 70 programs.