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PENNSYLVANIA: Girl Keeps Grandpa Going ... Ex-Cop Finds Will To Battle Parkinson's Published Friday, March 19, 2004 By Kristen Garrett ... Herald Staff Writer Sometimes there are people in our lives who push us to succeed because they see our potential. Sometimes there are people who push us without even knowing they’re doing it. Greg Sterling, 51, Hermitage, has someone pushing him along though she’s probably too young to realize it. Sterling was diagnosed in 1988 at the age of 35 with Parkinson’s disease. He credits his granddaughter, Kayla Sterling, 6, Hermitage, as his lifesaver. Sterling said at first his symptoms resembled Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. He said his right index finger was stiff and his and hurt. After having surgery for Carpal Tunnel, Sterling said he wasn’t getting any better so he went to see a neurologist who discovered he had Parkinson’s. “Actually I’m doing really well for having treatments for 16 years,” Sterling said. He said there are people who have been treated for less time with worse problems. Just because he’s doing well for someone in his condition, it doesn’t mean everything has been easy for Sterling. He said things have been difficult for him, his wife Diane and their family. “It’s really been a struggle for us. It’s not anything you expect to happen,” he said. Sterling was a police officer with Hermitage Police Department. He said he didn’t tell anyone about his disease for 10 years but eventually it created a safety issue for him and others. He said it was kind of a relief to finally tell people. Sterling said he had to quit his job, which sent him into a deep depression. “It was horrible,” he said. “It turned everything upside down.” About the same time Sterling said he had to quit his job, Kayla was born. “She saved my life,” he said of his young granddaughter. The pair spend a lot of time together during the week and bowling is a favorite activity. Lately they haven’t been able to bowl because Sterling said he’s had balance problems for the past year, and he fell and dislocated his shoulder bowling last summer. Even though they can’t bowl, Kayla said she and her grandpa find other things to do together like walking outside, looking for grasshoppers, and, come this summer, she’s going to use a trampoline she got for Christmas. Kayla doesn’t like that her grandpa has Parkinson’s. “I don’t like it cause he always falls,” she said. Sterling said sometimes it’s pretty funny when he falls, but Kayla disagrees. She said one time her grandpa fell at school when he came to pick her up and scared everyone. Kayla said it’s not scary to her when he falls, and one time she got to ride in an ambulance with him. Kayla explained that her grandpa has two canes, one for dress and one for play. Now that he’s retired, Sterling said he basically watches Kayla and does as much around the house as he can. He said spending time with Kayla helps him a lot. He said he tells Kayla that he will be better when she’s 16 because by then there will be better treatments for Parkinson’s. He said he is actively involved in increasing awareness of the disease. “They’re so close to a cure. I think something’s going to come along soon,” he said. For more information on Parkinson Disease visit the National Parkinson Foundation at http:www.parkinson.org SOURCE: The Herald, Sharon, Pennsylvania, Friday, March 19, 2004 Page C1 http://www.sharon-herald.com/localnews/recentnews/0403/ln031904d.html Reference: May 27, 2002 Sterling attends Parkinson's forum ... Ex-policeman helps push for funds in D.C. http://www.sharon-herald.com/localnews/recentnews/0205/ln052702c.html NM, USA - The Young Onset Parkinson's Association (YOPA), a newly formed Parkinson's support organization headquartered in Albuquerque, has joined forces with the New Mexico Chapter of the American Parkinson's Disease Association (APDA) in presenting the First Annual Southwest Regional Parkinson's Disease Conference and First Annual Young Onset Parkinson's Disease Awareness Walk, to be held October 11-12, 2002. http://www.plwp.org/virtuality/200209/200209_albuquerque.htm Young Onset Parkinson's Disease Conference and Awareness Walk in Albuquerque NM. The first annual event will coincide with the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta on Oct. 10-12, 2002 http://tinyurl.com/2kfjm * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn