Laura never expected this book to happen, but then, neither did it cross her mind she would be diagnosed with a progressive and as-yet-incurable brain cell killing disease (“Snapped synapses!”).
Laura had majored in literature and led a predictable, comfy corporate life when Bam!, on February 10, 2014, at 1:15 pm, her cute suits became history. Just six words from a doctor flipped her life over: “You have Parkinson’s Disease. So sorry.”
Yes, she shook and shuffled, but the fundamental changes were occurring in her brain: It switched from words to images. Once an unstoppable reader, today she is hooked on graphics. Her hands are usually stained with ink.
Now Laura lives with urgency. She wants to dedicate her remaining time to illustrating and writing for the common good, moved by an often painful awareness of the human condition we all share.
Dr. Christine Sapienza, Ph.D. serves as the Dean of the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences at Jacksonville University.
Previously, she was a longstanding professor and Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Florida, as well as a Research Career Scientist at the Brain Rehabilitation Research Center at the Malcom Randall VA Hospital in Gainesville, FL.
A Principal investigator of NIH, VA RR & D and MJ Fox Foundation grants, she has a strong national and international reputation for examining behavioral treatments like EMST150 for breathing strength, voice and airway protection, carefully reporting results in over 120 peer reviewed publications.
Passionate about patient care, Dr. Sapienza strives to innovate pragmatic resources for patient care.