A Servant’s Heart
Moving around has always been part of Marieke’s lifestyle. Since she was a child, Marieke has lived in several US states and on two continents — she was in Berlin when the wall came down.
“That was an exciting time in history,” Marieke said.
This year, she’s planning to relocate with her husband, Scott, from Central Florida to St. Augustine. At age 73, Marieke said she does get tired, but isn’t slowing down.
“I don’t have any fears of moving,” she said. “It’s kind of exciting. I’ve been fortunate in my lifetime to see a lot of different areas.”
Once settled, Marieke plans to connect and grow St. Augustine’s Parkinson’s disease support groups. She leads four different groups where she shares her story and ensures people get the care they need.
“It’s almost a full-time job,” she said. “It helps you know you’re not alone.”
Marieke has lived with Parkinson’s disease for more than 10 years. She said helping others makes a huge difference in her journey.
“I have to have faith in what I can do to make a difference,” Marieke said.
In 2019, Marieke’s movement disorder specialist started her on a new treatment regimen. To help with the cost of her care, the specialist directed Marieke to The Assistance Fund’s (TAF’s) Parkinson’s Disease Copay Assistance Program.
“The cost of my treatment was insane,” she said. “It’s sad — that medication has made a big difference.”
TAF’s program provides financial assistance for out-of-pocket costs for all prescribed FDA-approved treatment for the disease, such as copays, deductibles, and coinsurance. It took just minutes for Marieke to finish her application.
“My specialist and I were amazed,” Marieke said. “I couldn’t believe how quickly I could apply.”
When she’s not leading her support groups, Marieke’s days are busy. She walks her dog, attends physical therapy, and participates in an organization that provides educational scholarships to underserved women. And this year, Marieke took up collage-making.
“It’s the strangest thing,” she said. “You kind of throw some things together and it comes along. That’s why I like it so much.”
She submitted one of her first collages to TAF’s 2021 Kaleidoscope of Life Art Contest. The piece, she said, was inspired by the promise the future may hold.
“Creating art is happiness,” Marieke said. “I liked how that piece turned out!”
Marieke credits her interest in collages with her art studies and career as an interior designer. The job, she said, taught her a lot about people.
“My philosophy is to find out who you are and express that in your home,” she said. “Be confident and do that!”
During the pandemic, Marieke’s involvement with support groups and volunteering have allowed her to continue working with and serving others. Though she sometimes feels burned out, Marieke said, it continues to give her meaning.
“I’m blessed by helping people,” Marieke said. “It makes all of this have a purpose.”
