20 | HealthLinksSC.com Summerville resident Shirley Berardo has always considered herself remarkably healthy, one of those “good genes” people whose immune systems are robust. During childhood, she never missed school; when her sons came home with viruses, she didn’t get sick, and now, at 82, she is prescription-free and happily immersed in an active life. When Berardo located her biological family, she mentioned never getting ill to her half-sister, who responded, “You have good genes. We all do; we never get sick.” And then, Berardo’s certainty about her “good genes” shifted into an insatiable, contagious curiosity about why some people coast with good health and others experience just the opposite. Like Berardo, several seniors consider themselves the lucky ones whose immune systems, good luck, good genes and good choices have shaped their lifetime of good health. They also enjoy a strong sense of community – a plus for longevity. They gathered at Berardo’s home to share strategies they consider vital to their good health. The discussion was illuminating as each realized similarities and as Berardo peppered the conversation with current research and information her doctors have shared with her. ‘I NEVER GET SICK’ A COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS AND EXPERTS EXPLORES WHY By Lisa Moody Breslin
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