Getting after it, no matter what

Today News 25 brings you the story of a woman who pushes herself to the limit everyday while battling Parkinson’s and CIDP.
Maxine Nelson turns 80-years-old this September, but she’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Sometimes we need a little bit of inspiration to get into the gym and get to work and Maxine Nelson has more than enough to go around.
At 79-years-old, Maxine isn’t exactly the type of person you’d expect to find putting in work at the weight rack, but you can find her at Iron Works Gym in Biloxi on a regular basis. Maxine’s training routine is about more than just fitness, she’s always lived an active lifestyle. Just a few years ago, she swam three miles to cross the Mississippi River, but now she’s battling multiple debilitating diseases.
She says that working up a sweat is steadily renewing her quality of life. “I have two conditions, CIDP which is very rare and it affects your balance, so essentially from the knees down I have no feeling. Two years ago I had developed Parkinson’s disease and about a year and a half ago, I found I couldn’t live by myself anymore,” said Nelson.
In the short time since Maxine has started her journey in the gym, she’s been able to take up knitting again. She’s starting to cook meals on her own and she’s looking forward to many more years with her family and friends.