Parkinson's Support Group to hear from dietician with PD

FALLBROOK – North County Parkinson's Support Group Fallbrook invites all those interested to join their monthly Parkinson's Support Group meeting, Friday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to noon at the Fallbrook Regional Health and Wellness Center, 1636 E. Mission Road.

This month’s speaker will be Marty Azevedo, RDN, from the Davis Phinney Foundation, who will talk about “What's It All About and Aware and Care.”

Acevedo is the former director of Food and Nutrition, Environmental Services, and Patient Transportation at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who served as a member of the critical care health care team at TCMC, providing advice and recommendations for patients’ nutritional care as they recovered from critical illness or injury.

Acevedo is the author of two home-study courses for registered dietitians and other health care practitioners. She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2010. She has since increased her involvement in groups associated with Parkinson’s disease in an effort to raise awareness, increase knowledge and provide support for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners.

Acevedo is an ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation and is passionate about helping others with Parkinson’s to find their way to living their best life on their journey with PD.

In her personal journey with Parkinson's, Acevedo shared she was diagnosed with essential tremor in 2004 and with Parkinson’s in 2010. She said that she experienced symptoms of gait disturbance, dystonia, and REM sleep behavior disorder 10 years prior to her diagnosis. After her progression through the grieving process, she decided that her life would not be defined by her diagnosis. She felt called to help others who share this journey and quickly became involved with the Parkinson’s Association of San Diego.

Serving as board member of the Parkinson’s Association of San Diego and as an ambassador to the Davis Phinney Foundation, she targeted her knowledge and passion towards educating others living with Parkinson’s, encouraging exercise and socialization and helping others to find their best life. Acevedo is most proud of her involvement in the development and implementation of an integrated, medically evidence based program for people with Parkinson’s at a local wellness center.

Acevedo is an avid traveler with her husband and their travel van, having covered 35 states and multiple national parks. Exercise, enjoying the ocean and beach, maintaining and cultivating new friendships, learning new things and sharing her positive outlook are all vital to her daily life.

In addition to the speaker presentation, breakout groups held for a time of sharing, coffee and refreshments will follow the program.

his meeting is held in support of persons with Parkinson's disease, care partners and people interested in improving the world of those affected by Parkinson’s disease.

For more information, call Irene, 760-731-0171 or email [email protected].

Submitted by the Fallbrook Parkinson's Support Group.