An ALL-IN! Summit is a front-row seat to what the famed philosopher Aristotle meant when he said, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
On November 19th, the PMD Alliance Team hosted two days of non-stop breakout sessions and keynote speakers with the mission to “Reframe Support.” People with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders, support group leaders, care partners, industry leaders, clinicians, and researchers came together for the ALL IN! Support Group & Community Leader National Summit in Austin, Texas.
Participants were greeted with gadgets and information on upcoming events, including the 7th World Parkinson Congress and PD Avenger’s World Parkinson’s Night – SPARK the Night. Industry partners Acadia, Amneal, Supernus, Kyowa Kirin, and Abbvie provided information on the latest treatment options, including a 24-hour subcutaneous pump, VYALEV.
The sessions were collaborative efforts, with participants playing the roles of teachers and students. The speakers were teams of ambassadors, husbands and wives, industry leaders, clinicians, and care partners. We started day two with a workout with American Ninja Warrior and person with Young Onset Parkinson’s, Jimmy Choi. There was something for everyone, with opportunities in art, fitness, nutrition, storytelling, improv, family relationships, a documentary, and an afternoon date.
As a support group leader, I left rejuvenated and empowered to try new things, including the activity that Mike and I shared in our breakout session exploring the topic – What Matters Most to PwPs and What Matters Most to our Families/Care Partners. Mike and I attended the Close Contact for Couples session. On November 30th, we celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary by going on a “Date-Afternoon.” We had a fancy lunch and spent the afternoon playing retro video games.
As the summit came to a close, there was a sense of community that could only be understood by experiencing it. One of my favorite takeaways from Maria de Leon and Laurie Michley’s talk was a quote from a patient who said, “I am glad I have Parkinson’s because it used to have me.” While that may sound ridiculous because no one is glad they have Parkinson’s, it also makes perfect sense. We were present in our lives and living in the moment. We had our Parkinson’s; it didn’t have us.
Most importantly, we left knowing that we are ALL IN together – we are a “whole that is better than the sum of its very cool parts.”