Our Story
A Promise
That Guides Every Step
This journey began years ago, on a day I will never forget. I was sitting quietly in the back of a car, about to leave for England to begin my studies in Sports and Exercise Medicine at the University of Nottingham. As we pulled away from the house, I glanced back one last time.
There she stood, in the doorway of our home, holding a bowl of water — a simple tradition meant to bless a loved one’s path and wish them a smooth journey. Her figure was strong, confident as always. But it was her eyes that I remember most — eyes full of pride, but also hiding the sadness of saying goodbye.
As the car turned down the street, she called out to me:
“Remember — one of your hands should always be for others.”
That farewell marked a turning point in my life. It was the first time I was leaving behind the person who had been my rock, my guide, my greatest supporter. It felt as if I were leaving a part of myself behind.
What I didn’t know then was that there would be another, far more painful goodbye.
Just a month after I left, I received news that shattered me. The woman who had always been my source of strength had suffered a stroke. Soon after, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. And so began her rapid decline. By the time I completed my studies and returned home, she could no longer speak or move. The vibrant spirit who had shaped my life was slowly slipping away.
Her loss was profound. But her words — that promise she asked of me on the day I left — stayed with me. They became my purpose.
Mansooreh Tavakoli, my grandmother, passed away in 2018. Shortly after her passing, I moved to Canada. Not long after, a friend introduced me to a clinic with a special interest in helping people with Parkinson’s disease. That introduction led me to Jan Goldstein Elman and Rebecca Zaidlin — two remarkable individuals whose vision, compassion, and dedication transformed lives. Working alongside them, I found not just colleagues, but mentors. I saw how care rooted in both expertise and kindness could change the course of a person’s journey.
Initially, it was incredibly painful for me to see and treat patients with Parkinson’s. Every encounter was a trigger — a reminder of my own trauma, of the loss that still weighed so heavily on my heart. But as time passed, something shifted. I began to see my grandmother in every patient who walked through the doors of One Step Ahead Mobility. And with that came clarity: I was here to honor my promise. To put all of my effort into making a meaningful impact on the lives of families whose loved ones are affected by Parkinson’s. To offer them the care, support, and hope that I once wished for so deeply.
Today, as Clinical Director of One Step Ahead Mobility, I am privileged to continue and enhance the mission that Jan and Rebecca began — a mission built on excellence, innovation, and compassion. Together with our dedicated team, we have helped many individuals living with Parkinson’s, MS, stroke, and other chronic conditions.
My personal commitment is simple: to ensure that no family, no grandchild, no loved one feels the helplessness I felt. I want everyone who walks through our doors to know that they have support, guidance, and hope.
It is grandma’s legacy that lives on in our clinic. It is her voice that continues to guide me. And it is her promise that shapes our mission: to always keep one hand for others.
Kasra Mirhosseini
