The scary thing about unforeseen situations people face these days is that you never know the hand you are going to be dealt.

That’s what happened to John “Chet” Michalik back in 1995 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but being the trouper he is, Michalik never let those lousy cards keep him from playing the game.The Summit Hill man is an amazing exhibit of strength and courage who, despite living with the neurological disorder for 21 years, makes the best of every day and encourages people with similar challenges to persevere.He is a co-originator of the very first Parkinson’s/MS Support Group for the Panther Valley area, along with Gina Lisella, also of Summit Hill, who suffers from multiple sclerosis. The group is an immeasurable benefit to more than 20 local residents with similar medical issues, helping them to improve their quality of care and lives while living with these illnesses.Michalik, now 65, remembers back in 1995 when his hand started shaking uncontrollably, and was later being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Six years later, he had to stop working because, he said, he “shook so bad.”It was in 2012, though, that he saw a neurologist at the University of Pennsylvania. After a nine-hour psychological examination there, it was determined he was a “prime candidate” for DBS, or Deep Brain Stimulus, a procedure that he underwent for 12 hours on Feb. 13 of that year.The surgery was successful, resulting in the tremors he experienced now being controllable.These days, he remains active, either bicycling or by doing exercise classes with his support group members.The group he and Lisella started meets monthly, offering participants an opportunity to get together for one another, hear guest speakers, including therapists, and learn valuable information about where to go to get assistance.“Basically, we just help each other,” Michalik said. “Of anything in my life that I ever did, the thing that is self-gratifying to me is starting the support group. I thank God for that, because we have become like a family. It’s terrific.”“There really isn’t anything (group or organization) around that can help you when you are facing illnesses such as Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis,” his daughter, Nicole, pointed out.“Yes, the Panther Valley is a close-knit community, but there’s not a lot of stuff going on in this regard. You’d have to go to Stroudsburg, Bethlehem or Scranton to participate in a group like this one.”Nicole said when her father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s the family didn’t know how they could help.“But we were made to educate ourselves,” she said, “and a support group is one of the best ways to do that.”Michalik said he has come to learn a wide variety of issues facing members of the support group.“The first thing I tell a person is they can’t compare yourself to anyone else with Parkinson’s or MS. Everyone is different. But there are common factors, such as exercise and medicine.”The chance to exercise together was made possible through the St. Luke’s health network, which now holds exercise classes for the group on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at its Route 903 facility in Penn Forest Township, just outside of Jim Thorpe. Certified therapists help make those classes even better, Michalik said.“I can’t thank Bill Moyer (St. Luke’s CEO) enough for making these sessions possible,” Michalik said. “And Joe Paluck (therapist) and his staff (Mindy, Christine and Erin) do an excellent job with our people. They are specially trained to assist those with Parkinson’s.”He said anyone experiencing such illnesses and wanting to get good local advice, support and ideas can contact him for information at 570-645-9306.Meanwhile, life goes on for Michalik, who will tell you that “your support is only as good as your family.”He said his wife, Diane, who teaches in the Tamaqua Area School District, son Andrew and Nicole “are always there when I need them,” as are his brother, Tony, and sister, Mary Helen Shelton, who so often provide things that others would take for granted, like driving him to Philadelphia and making food for their family.“You can have all the exercise you want, but the most important thing is family,” he said. “Family is it. That’s imperative. And I’m fortunate that I have such a great one.”