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Team Baumann

February 27, 2015

To Bernadette, on the third anniversary of our wedding:
MY TOP TEN MEMORIES

10. Road trip: From Louisville to our new adventure in Arizona over 3 days in a two-seater MINI. “We could talk or not talk for hours.”

9. Dream Weekend: Our weekend trip to New York City where we sat in the front row directly in front of Gregg Allman, I got to meet many of Bernadette’s close friends, and topped it of by getting matching tattoos on our ring fingers to signify our love and commitment even when we are not wearing our rings.

8. Training and Wellness: All the Bikram Hot Yoga, kettlebell and boxing workouts we experienced together in places starting in Louisville and expanding to Rome, Nice, France, Montreal, Cancun, Mexico, Tempe, Arizona, New York City, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Hilton Head, Orlando, Miami, Key West and so many others.

7. The Longest Day: The finale to our magical trip to Europe meeting most of Bernadette’s immediate family, which felt like hundreds, where, during the last day, we rocked to Bruce Springsteen in an outdoor stadium in Rome, somehow found a taxicab at 1am, with our destination written on her hand and a few hours later, we jumped on a direct flight to JFK and got a ride from the airport to Connecticut for my niece’s wedding the next day.

6. Friends and Family: Each occasion where I got to visit and get to know better Bernadette’s many friends and family. Glenda, Terri, Linda, Holly, and so many others, you know who you are. From Los Angeles to NYC to the Keys to St. John she has created so many friendships. Even in her short time with “blistering cold temps” the repeated “I’m freakin’ freezin’” in Kentucky, she connected with, and introduced me to, great people.

5. The Love Shared between Bernadette and My Parents: Every time my mother shares her belief that my meeting Bernadette was “Divine Intervention,” including when I lost my voice, during a keynote speech in South Carolina, from overwhelming emotion, where my Mom took the microphone and finished the story, while I regained my composure.

4. Caring: At the end of my week long visit to the Virgin Islands, when we first met and spent much of our time together, Bernadette showing her capacity for caring, by not only bringing me to the airport, but walking me through the steps to get through customs and making sure I got on the plane safe, spending ever last minute together.

3. Inspiring: In over 100 inspirational talks I have given with her and Ollie (our little white emotional support dog) by my side, the one that stands out most in my mind, where I (and practically everyone else) was moved to the point of exhaustion from the joyful emotion I expressed of having Bernadette appear in my life and be thereby encouraging me every day to live life to the fullest despite having Parkinson’s disease.

2. The Most Wonderful Beach Experience: Bernadette introduced me to the island of Anegada, which you can only get to by ferry once a month or by private plane. The whitest, softest, most comfortable sand and the bluest water that I have ever scene and, near the end of our stay, we laid on the sand intertwined dozing off, while the soft waves covered us, then retreated, as if we were the only people in the world.

1. An Angel Appears: The extreme degree of love that I experienced while standing at the place where we would take our vows, in the home I realized that I built just for this occasion, on the warmest, sunny February day in Louisville, with many of our friends that filled my life with love, some traveling, on a moments notice, from Massachusetts to the Florida Keys and many places in between, the moment that Bernadette appeared on the staircase standing in her wedding dress and I (as well as everyone else) were filled with overwhelming tears of joy. I am more convinced today than even then that I married my best friend and the love of my life.

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What a wonderful presentation, John! You were wonderful and I am so grateful you shared your story. We were receiving excellent feedback in the chat too:

That was fantastic information, thank you for your candor and humor! Awesome 🤩 talk and info ! Thanks much. It’s hard, thanks for sharing. Thank you for sharing your story and for your positive attitude. It’s important to hear this message. This was just what I needed. Thank you so much. you are an inspiration, thank you!

As we stated, we hit 100 participants at 3:09!

Thank you again,

Eden Feldman, LCSW Associate Director, Community

I do not have the words to thank you enough for making the trip to Dallas to do two presentations for us at CC young. You truly are special and a rockstar and clearly touched many lives today. It is a victory! I was able to run all over campus and welcome guests and host you. It was a victory. Thanks to you for helping me think that way. We will catch you on the next round. Get some rest my friend. Safe travels. And know we love you from CC Young and Dallas!

Patty CC Young and Dallas

“After two years of not being able to hear speakers in person , I was thrilled to have John Bauman as a speaker at our “ Living Well With Parkinson’s’ Gala!. Not only was John engaging and inspiring to get to know off stage , on stage he truly drove home the theme of empowerment to our audience and left our growing community of attendees with several “ aha “ moments and desire to hear more. He spoke from personal experience as a Parkinson’s patient ,inspiring the audiences motivation to truly wish to make a difference and uniting us all in our humanity. Attendees after listening to John , felt inspired to make a difference in the world and do their part to create change for those living with Parkinson’s. My only regret was not being able to spend more time with John and I look forward to having him speak again to our audience.”

Naomi Wong WPP Program Manager

John’s message of hope, inspiration and laughter was ideal for anyone living with PD. He was extremely flexible and a delight to work with.

Leisha Phipps, MSW Program Director - Dallas Area Parkinson Society

We all felt inspired and enjoyed listening to your presentation. Even though we are not living with Parkinson’s, we felt boost of motivation to continue helping those who are living with this disease. I am motivated to make more personal phone calls to people living with PD and asking how they are doing. Sometimes that “extra” bit of kindness truly makes a difference to someone. I am also motivated to research program ideas and partner with other organizations that may have similar values.

I learned that life is unexpected and that you cannot control it. What matters is your attitude!

-Great way to end the day, brave man, thank you very much!

-Good, excellent, great, outstanding speaker, very moving!

-Inspirational who just “gets it”

-Positive thinker and very funny!

-Honest speaker but also humorous!

Parkinson’s Society of Southwest Ontario, Canada, Symposium Keynote Presentation

“whatever hand life deals you, whatever life changing adversity you have to endure, you still have some control over it.” “You don’t have to just to live well,” he advises,” but live an Amazing Life.” The formula he proposes: Faith in yourself, discipline, determination, desire, intensity, and inner strength.

MARY SPREMULLI VOICE AEROBICS

Yes, you touched every person at our conference, who will in turn change and impact so many others. The feedback from our participants was overwhelmingly positive. You are the only speaker to ever receive a standing ovation. Thank you for taking time to share, motivate and inspire. We are blessed to know you.

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING REHABILITATION HOSPITAL

I will be honest. During the first 10 minutes of your presentation, I started reading work related material on my laptop. For surely, I had watched your You-Tube and seen your videos and knew what to expect. Surely, as a therapist I had studied this disease, the pathological components, the psychological components, the treatment alternatives……..Surely, I understand it.

Not so much. You caught my attention and I was enthralled. You were able to couple the impairments you experience with the emotions felt. You walked us through your life with the disease through “your eyes”. A perspective that a therapist/nurse rarely has the chance to hear. We get so busy telling patients how to deal with x, y and z, but our eyes are blurred by the science of it all most of the time.

You did it through truth, Through your humor, humility and determination to tell your story. One that most deservedly needs to be shared.

I will advocate to have you share your story. I appreciate your determination, diligence and dedication.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER REHABILITATION HOSPITAL