Ceceilia LaValle’s family and friends knew her as the life of any party — an entrepreneur, a great artist, a wonderful cook, a devoted sister, wife and mother.

“She was an integral figure in our family and had so much enthusiasm for life,” said Neilia LaValle, one of Ceceilia’s younger sisters.

When Cecelia was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the early 1990s after noticing rigidity in her left arm, she leaned into her passions and was determined to live life to the fullest as she bravely fought PD.

She had already been diagnosed with PD by the time she met her fourth husband, and ultimate care partner, Jimmie Amox, while they were enrolled as graduate students at Louisiana Tech University. Though she made several careers for herself, art always drew her back in.

“Her art really blossomed during her graduate studies,” said Deanna LaValle High, one of Ceceilia’s younger sisters. “I would say that Cecelia was at the peak of her artistic capability and showing every sign of continuing to grow as an artist, when she was diagnosed with Parkinson's. She continued to make art until the disease finally robbed her of that ability.”

Cecelia’s family rallied around her, researching PD and supporting her as she explored treatment options. Jimmie said she was determined to continue living her life and was invested in finding PD care that allowed her to do so. She consulted with several doctors around the world and tried many treatments to alleviate her symptoms, including the hallucinations.

“I lost my mom long before she passed away, due to the hallucinations,” said Michele Smith, Cecelia’s daughter. “It was difficult for our family to watch her deteriorate.”

Before Cecelia passed away in 2016, Neilia spoke to a friend who had recently started her own non-profit to raise money for breast cancer, which inspired Neilia to do the same and support a cause near to her heart — Parkinson’s disease.

“Seeing what my sister was going through made me want to help find a cure for Parkinson’s,” Neilia said. “I don’t want other people to go through what my family and my sister went through.”

Neilia uses her foundation to support organizations like the Parkinson’s Foundation that are working to find a cure for PD. She’s proud to honor her sister and to continue her fight for a cure.

“It seems like more and more people are directly impacted by Parkinson’s. We need to get more people actively involved in supporting organizations that are looking for a cure, like the Parkinson’s Foundation. There is hope, and that is what we need to use to keep us going.”
- Neilia LaValle

Like Neilia, other members of Cecelia’s family are inspired by the Parkinson’s Foundation and happy to see more resources for people with Parkinson’s, care partners and their families.

“Many of the current treatments and resources available now were not available when Cecelia was diagnosed,” said Jimmie. “Organizations like the Parkinson’s Foundation have changed that. If I could offer advice to those newly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease or people entering the Parkinson's care partner world, I would say that the first thing you need in your toolbox is love for each other. Grow that love every day. Get to truly know each other and constantly question reactions to new experiences with this disease.”

“If you are new to Parkinson’s, take stock of yourself and your priorities,” said Deanna. “And, if you are inclined to live life fully like Cecelia, do it, do it, do it. As best you can.”

With your support, we can invest in research that will help us find new treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s in years, not decades. To make a donation, visit Parkinson.org/Donate.

My name is DawnElla Rust, and basketball was my first love. Though not a top-tier player like Caitlin Clark, I earned a scholarship for three years in college. I enjoyed training and knew my body well. After basketball, I stayed active with running, walking, weightlifting, hiking and rafting, while earning a Doctor of Education in Health Promotions and working as a university professor. My third love was teaching health in higher education, with my second love being my marriage in 1990.

In 2010, I became interim chair of my department, a role I hated and which brought significant stress. Notable stress symptoms included my right arm not swinging when I walked, difficulty fastening seat belts, lack of blinking, hand tremors, an unexplained Achilles issue and increased anxiety. The body that I knew well was not working. Collectively, these symptoms led to a Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosis, which shocked me.

I knew nothing about Parkinson’s. Naively I even told a friend “Give me a couple of weeks and I will have this Parkinson’s thing figured out.” Initially, I believed I could quickly manage Parkinson's, but 15 years later, “I’m still figuring it out.”

I am better today thanks to invaluable resources from the Parkinson’s Foundation. One valuable resource is their trained professionals who offer phone support, especially on difficult days — and there are difficult days. I often use these Parkinson’s Foundation resources in an educational approach to openly discuss my diagnosis, because a teacher always teaches!

We’re here for you.
For answers to your Parkinson’s questions, call or email our Helpline. 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636)

As a university health professor, I was able to educate others on managing chronic diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. I taught a course on Social and Emotional Health, emphasizing the impact of social connections and emotions on physical well-being. The Parkinson’s Foundation's mission, "Better Lives. Together.", aligns with the principles I have taught and lived by.

Teaching concepts related to happiness, gratitude, humor and awe has empowered me to maintain a positive quality of life despite my diagnosis. Student feedback indicated that my personal narrative significantly contributed to their understanding of living well.

The health philosophy I advocate for is one where individuals strive to live well in the face of illness, disability and trauma.

Life inevitably presents challenges, such as the loss of loved ones, catastrophic events and diagnoses like Parkinson’s. I retired in 2024 after 30 years in higher education due to non-movement symptoms affecting my teaching, but I continue to educate and live a fulfilling life in retirement.

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