New Lufkin therapy clinic offers specialized Parkinson’s care

LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - Nearly 90,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease every year, and more than 3,000 died in 2024, according to the CDC.

Trudy Richerson of Lufkin knows what it’s like to care for a loved one with Parkinson’s. Her husband, Tim Richerson, died from the disease in April.

“It started out just with sleep problems and then a tremor and then falls and then eventually over the years, dementia,” Richerson said.

Richerson said she wishes she had more options while caring for her husband.

“Oh my gosh, I wish, I wish, I wish that we had had access to this kind of help,” she said.

The help she’s referring to is B Best Therapy Services, which opened in Lufkin.

Dr. Brandi Best, owner of the facility, specializes in Parkinson’s treatment.

“The goal of opening this clinic was to bring awareness to people about people with Parkinson’s, so that we can provide that next level of care for them,” Best said.

Through one-on-one sessions and support groups, Best hopes to bring relief in a new way, noting research shows exercise is one of the best things people with Parkinson’s can do outside of taking medication.

Dawnella Rust has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s for 16 years. She works out every day and believes that’s why the progression hasn’t held her back.

“There’s a lot of non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s, depression, anxiety, spatial awareness, urinary issues, bowel issues,” Rust said.

Rust encourages other patients to keep moving:

“Keep going. Don’t give up. It’s hard some days, but it’s going to be easier the next. And so just keep moving.”