2024 was a rough year for 83-year-old Morris resident Joe Schmitz. For unknown reasons, he lost his inability to roll over in bed. Then he couldn’t get up from a chair on his own or fasten his seatbelt. He was having difficulty signing his name. As his physical abilities continued to deteriorate, he wondered if he was experiencing long-term effects from his two bouts of COVID.
Schmitz’s primary care physician ordered some tests to determine what was going on. While the results came back “perfect,” Schmitz knew something was drastically wrong. That’s when he got referred to a neurologist and received his diagnosis: Parkinson’s disease. It was all coming together now. Schmitz had given up golfing a few years earlier because of balance issues.
When he learned that Morris Hospital offers specialized Parkinson’s programs, Schmitz didn’t waste any time enrolling. In January 2025, he started participating in Pedaling for Parkinson’s, a free class offered through Morris Hospital and the Morris Hospital YMCA. Three times a week, Schmitz spends an hour in the cycling gym at the Y riding alongside others who have been diagnosed with the same condition. Evidence shows that cycling helps individuals with Parkinson’s improve their gait, balance, speech, handwriting, and overall endurance, helping to delay the progression of symptoms.
He also enrolled in an intensive outpatient rehabilitation program through Morris Hospital called LSVT BIG. Working with specially certified physical therapists and occupational therapists, Schmitz had to commit to one-hour therapy sessions four consecutive days a week over a period of four weeks, for a total of 16 sessions. The therapy focuses on improving gross and fine motor skills by re-training the brain and body to increase the amplitude of movements so they feel and appear more “normal” in size, which can help with tasks ranging from handwriting and buttoning clothes, to walking and going up stairs.
For Schmitz, the improvement was remarkable.
“The program is a God send,” said Schmitz. “When the therapists asked what I wanted to improve, I said my strength, signing my name, and being able to golf again. I worked hard at it, and I did everything that they told me to do. I can’t believe how much that four weeks helped me. I can’t tell you the difference. I finally had a vision of hope.”
Schmitz gets much of the credit for his success. While he was undergoing therapy, he did everything he was instructed to do at home and continues to today.
“About every hour, I get up and walk 300 steps. It helps loosen me up,” said Schmitz. “Every night, I sit down and write a letter to improve my handwriting. And it keeps improving. I have to keep moving, keep active and stay positive.”
He praises the Parkinson’s programs and staff at Morris Hospital who have been part of his journey.
“I am so thankful for the LSVT program. It’s a wonderful program, and Pedaling for Parkinson’s is great too.” he said. “Morris Hospital is doing so many good things to help people with Parkinson’s. And we don’t have to drive to Chicago. We have qualified people right here in our community.”
Today, Schmitz is eagerly anticipating getting back on the golf course after a three year absence.
“I think I lost 2024. I wasn’t positive, and people who know me know that wasn’t the old Joe,” he shared. “I firmly believe that God isn’t done with me yet. He has bigger plans for me. Participating in the LSVT program at Morris Hospital has given me renewed hope that I can still lead a quality life.”
Morris Hospital offers specialized physical, occupational, and speech therapy programs called LSVT LOUD and LSVT BIG to help individuals with Parkinson’s improve their gross and fine motor skills and speech. For more information, call 815-705-3620 or go to morrishospital.org/parkinsons.
