Learning to live with life-changing illness

DETERMINED Jeanette Sharp has refused to let Parkinson’s Disease stop her from living a normal life – despite being diagnosed at just 42.

The mother-of-two, now 49, discovered she had the condition following a brain scan and, together with her husband, family and friends, has fought back.

She takes 17 tablets a day to control the disease, but has refused to let it beat her.

Jeanette still works at Eastwood Primary School, where she used to help children with their handwriting as a learning support assistant.

She said: “My handwriting was getting smaller and smaller and I couldn’t do this anymore.

“I tried to leave the school, but they have been really supportive and I now work in the office.

“If I had given up work, it would have done more harm than good. You have to live a normal life.

“It is still difficult to do some things.

“You really have to concentrate when you walk, thinking left, right, left, right.

“The tablets help a lot, but I couldn’t be doing this without the support of my family. “ Jeanette, of Dulverton Avenue, Westcliff, admits there have been some tough times.

She said: “It was a shock when I was diagnosed. I had gone to see my GP with a problem with my arm and he referred me to a specialist.

“I have never been ill all my life, but this isn’t an illness, it is a condition.

“People can’t see anything wrong with you and sometimes don’t understand when you can’t do something.

“I don’t like going to the supermarket because you have to stand in queues and my face often looks stiff and vacant.

“It’s silly things like that which get to you.”

About 10,000 people are diagnosed each year with the condition, but it is more common in people over 50.

Parkinson’s affects nerve cells which produce a chemical called dopamine. This chemical allows messages to be sent to co-ordinate movement.

Actor Michael J Fox and boxer Muhammad Ali also both suffer with the disease. It leads to problems with movement such as writing and walking.

Husband Gary, 48, said: “Jeanette was shocked when the doctors told her. We both always thought the disease is something older people get.

“They put Jeanette on medication straight away, which helped a lot. If you took the tablets away you would notice the difference.

“She doesn’t get the tremors, but she does have a lot of stiffness. There is a noticeable change in her face as well, but really Parkinson’s restricts her movement.

“We have had a lot of support from the society. Jeanette struggles to open bottle tops and buttons.

“But I found I was helping too much to start with. I would take over and do things before she even had a chance to do them and she found that frustrating.

“I had to learn to let her lead her life and help if she asked for it.”

Because of the support the couple have had from the Parkinson’s Disease Society, they have pledged to raise funds for the organisation.

In October, Gary will be flying out to Beijing for a five-day trek along the Great Wall of China.

Gary added: “They have been terrific.”

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