DadhasParkinson’s

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By Virginia Ironside

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Pete was feeling a bit sad. Everything at home was just the same as it always had been, but dad had changed recently, and Pete kept wondering if he’d done something wrong. But however good Pete tried to be, nothing seemed to make any difference.

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One day he heard dad and mum talking about someone called ‘Parkinson’ and he wondered who he was.

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So next time he was helping mum with the washing up – dad didn’t do it as much as he used to because he kept dropping things – he asked about it.

“We weren’t talking about a person!” said mum. “We were talking about Parkinson’s disease.

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“It’s a condition that dad’s got, named after a very clever doctor called Parkinson who first discovered it.”

“Have I got Parkinson’s?” asked Pete, suddenly worried.

“No,” said mum, laughing. “And there’s no reason why you should get it, ever. No, dad’s the one who’s got Parkinson’s.”

The minute she said this, Pete felt suddenly better but worried at the same time.

“Will you tell me about it?” he said. Mum turned round from the sink and dried her hands. “Of course I’ll tell you, Pete,” she said.

“We didn’t like to talk about it too much because we thought it would upset you, but now you’ve asked, I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

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“Why doesn’t dad smile and laugh like he used to?” asked Pete. “Is he unhappy about having Parkinson’s?”

“Well, Parkinson’s isn’t a nice illness to have,” said mum. “But the reason dad doesn’t smile or laugh as much as he used to isn’t because he’s unhappy or cross. It’s because the condition makes his smiling muscles all stiff. That’s why he doesn’t move around as well as he used to, either, and why he sits a lot.”

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“But sometimes he does walk,” said Pete, puzzled. “In the park he was fine, but then he suddenly stopped by the practice pitch for ages. And there wasn’t even anyone playing football on it!”

“That’s his muscles again.They suddenly stop,” said mum. “But there’s nothing to worry about. If you wait a minute, he’ll start walking again.”

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“But the other day he fell over,” said Pete. “I was really frightened he’d hurt himself.”

“Yes,” said mum. “Just like you used to when you were taking your first steps. That’s to do with Parkinson’s as well. When that happens it’s called ‘freezing’. Suddenly all dad’s muscles stop working and sometimes he can topple over.”

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“Why does he take so long to eat?” asked Pete. “It’s really boring because it takes ages for dad just to eat his soup!” “That’s the same problem,” said mum. “None of his muscles are working as quickly as ours, so it takes him a while to lift his spoon and to swallow. So we just have to be patient and wait for him. He’s trying as hard as he can.”

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Mum put the kettle on and started to make a cup of tea.

“No, wait!” cried Pete. “There are more things I want to know!”

“I’m sorry,” said Mum. “I wanted to make your dad a cup of tea, but I can tell you more about Parkinson’s while I do it.”

“Great!” said Pete. “So is Parkinson’s why sometimes dad can’t speak properly? Because of his muscles slowing up his mouth?”

“Yes, that’s right!” said mum. “Everything that people with Parkinson’s disease do takes a little bit longer than it does for all of us. And that’s why it might take a bit longer for him to reply to us.”

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“Why can’t he draw pictures for me like he used to?” asked Pete.

“Because his hands are slower, too, and, because his hands are shaky as well, he finds it more difficult to draw a straight line, and so the pencil goes all over the place. Sometimes he finds it easier to type than to write. Otherwise his handwriting looks like yours when you’re in a hurry!”

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“Why has he got Parkinson’s?” asked Pete.

“No one knows,” said mum. “But it seems to be something to do with chemicals in the brain. Sadly, doctors can’t make everyone better, though they try hard all the time. You’ve probably noticed dad takes lots of pills every day, which help him a bit. Although doctors are trying to find a cure, they haven’t found one yet, even though lots and lots of people have the condition.”

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“Will he die because of Parkinson’s?” asked Pete, worried.

“No, he certainly won’t,” said mum. “We all die one day, but not because of Parkinson’s.”

“Will you get Parkinson’s?” Pete asked.

“No, I don’t think so,” said mum. “Don’t worry.”

“I do worry,” said Pete, “because dad used to be such fun, and so happy, and now he just looks serious all the time and I keep thinking I’ve done something wrong. Can I cheer him up?”

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“Oh, Pete!” said mum, putting his arms round him and giving him a big hug. “It’s nothing to do with you, so don’t worry. The way you can make dad happier is just by being patient when he’s having problems, and doing his smiling for him. Then you know he’ll be laughing inside, just like he used to.”

Pete felt a lot better when he knew all about Parkinson’s.

He knew that dad wasn’t cross or unhappy. Inside he was still there, laughing and being the lovely dad he always had been.

“It’s good that now I know that he still loves me – and I love him,” he said.

“And I love you all, too,” said mum.

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Charity registered in England and Wales No. 258197and in Scotland No. SC037554

A company limited by guarantee,Registered No. 948776 (London)

Registered office 215 Vauxhall Bridge Road,London SW1V 1EJ

© Parkinson’s Disease Society of the United KingdomFebruary 2008 Code B089

Illustrated by Rosalind Richards