When Tim Taylor’s grandkids tell him to “take big steps,” they’re not asking him to hurry.

Instead, they’re helping their “Pepo” practice LSVT BIG. The innovative exercise program helps Parkinson’s disease patients stay active by addressing problems with walking speed, balance and trunk rotation.

The 65-year-old practicing Jackson architect was diagnosed with the movement disorder six years ago. At the time, he was somewhat oblivious to symptoms such as unusual arm movements and difficulty walking.

Noah Gibbs of Madison had his life mapped out.

First, he’d finish a degree in biomedical engineering at Mississippi State University, then pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon.

But instead of a fall semester hitting the books and shadowing Starkville physicians, he’s learning about health care from an unexpected perspective. Since July 22, he’s been recovering from a paralyzing injury suffered in a side-by-side accident.

Astride a stationary bike, strapped into a Pilates machine or sweating it out with boot camp diehards, 51-year-old Faith Martin is a model of fitness as she teaches classes at the Flowood YMCA.

So her students might be surprised by her recent appearance at a Citywide Stroke Support Group meeting at Methodist Rehabilitation Center.

It’s hard to imagine she once spent a month at the Jackson hospital, fighting to recover from a near fatal stroke.