My PD Story

In the past 10 years, Cindy and Scott Heider have assisted three family members navigate a Parkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosis. As avid philanthropists, becoming supporters of the Parkinson’s Foundation felt like a natural fit as they set out to learn more about the disease to aid those in their family with PD and help raise awareness. 

“I don’t think people really understand the progression of Parkinson’s disease and how it affects so many aspects of a person’s life, as well as the people around them,” Cindy said.  

One thing Cindy noticed firsthand is how PD symptoms and the progression are unique to each person who has it. While one of her family members battled movement symptoms, another experienced both movement and non-movement symptoms. 

“As I’ve watched family members deal with Parkinson’s, I’ve seen that everyone responds differently to different therapies,” said Cindy. “Knowing how Parkinson’s is affecting you and communicating that to your doctors is so important so you can find the right treatment for your symptoms.” 

Cindy also believes educating healthcare professionals about Parkinson’s disease, especially people who work in hospital settings, is essential to improving care. When her mother was hospitalized, she was shocked to learn most of the staff were not aware or familiar with the medications specific to Parkinson’s and the importance of the timing they needed to be administered. 

“I think there needs to be a minimum education requirement to ensure safe, supportive care for people with Parkinson’s,” she said. 

Cindy and Scott are proud to support the Parkinson’s Foundation and invest in programs that are addressing these concerns, including our Hospital Care Initiative and PD Library of educational resources. They are also eager to support innovative research that can lead us to treatments that slow or stop progression. 

“We decided to support the Foundation because we think it is important for more people to know about Parkinson’s,” Cindy said. “As the population ages, more and more people are getting diagnosed with this disease, and we know from experience how important it is to learn more about it. We also believe in supporting research initiatives like PD GENEration, which is a great avenue to get more people with Parkinson’s involved in research. The more people you can engage, the more accurate your results are, and the faster research can progress.” 

Through the Heider Family Foundation, Cindy and Scott have made a generous matching gift, which they believe will inspire others to support the Foundation’s important initiatives.  

“I was inspired by my mom to make this matching gift,” Cindy said. “She was so willing to be open about having Parkinson’s disease and she took each day as it came. Her outlook and positivity inspired me, and I want it to inspire others.” 

Join Cindy and Scott and support the Parkinson’s Foundation with their mission to improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease. Make a year-end gift today.