My friend has custody of her 2 special needs granddaughters, and she has stage 3-4 Parkinson's disease. She is denial on many levels. How can I help?

Parkinson's is really an unbrella term for a collection of similar symptoms. My Mom has had Parkinsons for apx 15 years and her symptoms have not increased dramatically. My MIL had it and it was not what she passed away from.
As far as helping...be positive and proactive. She knows what her condition means, but, perhaps, does not want to dwell on it. It is not up to you to shake her out of her "denial."
Help her out where you can. Offer to help with her two granddaughters. Then listen to her and let her guide you as far as getting more involved.
You are a good friend to be so concerned.

Is she still able to take care of the children? Are their needs being met? I agree just help her out s bit. As lo g as the children are taken care of, it shoukd be ok for now.

Tell her about Howard Shifke and Fighting Parkinsons Drug Free, it is Qigong exercises that help overcome Parkinsons symptoms, and really works. She probably has deep feelings, perhaps fears or anxieties, about being able to continue helping the children. A counselor could help her face the hard questions and plan for if her condition gets worse, to have provisions in place for the children. Parkinsons can affect the mind even before the body. The mind gets irrational, intractable, and inflexible. This makes it hard to help them. Dr. Schulze's liver detox tea can help with that. Maybe she is avoiding issues because she sees no good solutions. Tell her you will meet with her once a week, to focus on organization and getting her affairs in order, to relieve her anxiety about the future.