Diagnosed at 45
Diagnosed at 45I am an accomplished vocalist, composer and arranger, and have performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Latin America. My voice has been heard in households across America in a wide variety of jingles for television and radio.
I am originally from Panamá, and studied music at the University of Florida and Berklee College of Music in Boston. I also hold a Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology and with a Clinical Specialty in Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders. I completed Allied Team Training in Parkinson’s, sponsored by the National Parkinson’s Foundation, in March 2013. I currently work in a hospital out-patient setting in Los Angeles County, and take advantage of California’s beautiful weather to stay active with my husband and 2 daughters.
About four years into my diagnosis, I realized the energy I used to worry about my illness progressing and fearing the future could be better utilized. Then I had the opportunity to be a patient of Dr. Monique Giroux, who introduced me to the concept of harnessing potentially negative energies toward healing, living in the moment, and acknowledging values. This experience cause a shift in my thinking, which allowed for new opportunities, relationships and plans for the future that are more exciting than I ever could have imagined.In 2013, my husband and I condensed our story into an original music video, ‘Rerouted by PD’, which was featured at the 2013 World Parkinson Congress in Montreal, Canada. This project led to a new venture, www.slothatworkproductions.com. We are currently producing a video series dedicated to improving the lives of those living with or caring for people with PD.