Project history

In 2019, Vanessa had the privilege of being the part of the creation of “Empowered by Parkinson’s,” a 30 minute documentary for Connecticut Public Television, which explores the effects of the disease as well as ways patients are taking control of their own treatments. This is when Vanessa met Allan Cole, one of the primary subjects of the documentary. Allan played an integral role in the film, and the two were moved to co-create another documentary. “Empowered by Parkinson’s” was seen by many people, thanks to the prominence of the PBS family. In an effort to continue the educational journey around PD, “The Only Day We Have” focuses exclusively on those with YOPD, and addresses the specific nuances of this journey, as well as social determinants of health and health disparities, as these relate to experiences with Parkinson’s.

We are excited to have Austin PBS as our presenting station, with our film airing on April 23, 2024! Stay tuned for more updates to learn if your PBS station will air the film.