The Northern Alabama CMTA Branch is for those who have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and their loved ones. We welcome you to join this vibrant group of active and caring individuals in your area to share resources, ideas, CMT-related information, and personal experiences and to, ultimately, build life-long friendships and support. Meetings will focus on CMT education, awareness, research updates, fundraising initiatives, advocacy, and current events and will include guest speakers. We love newcomers and hope you will join us at our next meeting!
Hello! My name is Kimberly Parry. I have CMT1A. I was officially diagnosed when I was 6 years old. I am the oldest of 4. We all have CMT to some degree. I've been married for nearly 14 years. My husband and I have 2 girls and we currently live in North Central AL. We spent 3 years at Camp Pendleton, 7 years in Virginia Beach and landed in North AL about 4.5 years ago. I am originally from Georgia. I have homeschooled our children since birth. I am very active in our church, American Heritage Girls and the homeschool co-op we attend. Along with any other activities our kids join along the way. I have several reasons for starting a CMT branch in Northern Alabama. I feel it would help to fill a void in my life. I would like make friends and grow relationships with people who understand the struggles we with CMT face. I want to create a safe and non-judgmental environment for us to not feel like we are burdening others because of our extra challenges. A place where we can talk freely, share resources and exchange tips and tricks to help each other cope.
Hi, I’m Julie. I was diagnosed with CMT when I was a senior in high school. Many years later, testing was done that revealed it was CMT2A. I live in Huntsville, Alabama, with my husband who is an AF retiree. Our two daughters, two sons-in-law and one grandson also live in Alabama. I enjoyed being outside running around as a kid even if I did fall a lot. Later of course, it became sports, exercise, so through the years I put my fitness experience and now fitness instructor training to use by changing and modifying workouts as needed. Some of the changes to keep moving was training for a backpacking, hiking adventure. I trained physically and mentally to meet up with others. CMT tried to stop me, but I learned how and when to rest and what was best to help in recover. I might have been the slowest one in my group but completed everything set in front of me. I trained and went on a different backpacking adventure the next year. This trip was less backpacking but kept the hiking and some adventure parts. With CMT, one has to change frequently and adapt to stay active, which looks different for everyone. I continue to learn how important it is to be active, healthy and fit through heart, mind, soul, and body. Since humans age and most develop some kind of challenge, this will allow people to enjoy life better, move longer and enjoy being around family and friends. Movement is so important to all, especially with challenges such as CMT that affect individuals differently over time and for some taking many abilities away. I’m a wife, mother, Mimi, Air Force veteran, friend, fitness instructor, crafter, member of a few different groups and more. I lead group fitness classes at a gym, helping others strengthen and stretch their bodies. I also enjoy sewing, quilting, crocheting, other crafts, doing various forms of exercise, walking/hiking when my body allows and camping when I have time. Exercising and eating mostly healthily can slow or stop the progression of many diseases. So, let’s all move more today than we did yesterday. Keep on Keeping on.
