InTouch with Southern Kentucky April 2020 | Page 25

Health
Pulaski couple opens up about
going through Parkinson’s
BY TIM MINTON
Imagine having hurdles while
performing everyday tasks like
buttoning a shirt, cutting food, or
brushing your teeth. On top of this,
one moment you can easily move
but need help the next.
These are just some of the daily
difficulties you may have while
living with Parkinson’s Disease (Par-
kinson’s). This neurodegenerative
disease affects roughly one million
people nationwide.
April is Parkinson’s Awareness
Month. It aims to raise mindfulness
about the disease while showing
support for those having it and their
loved ones.
In Pulaski, one 43-year married
couple is experiencing what it is like
for the past two years living with
Parkinson’s. They are David and
Karen Beshears.
Growing up on a dairy farm,
David is the son of the late Carthel
Beshears and a 1970 Pulaski Coun-
ty High School graduate. He is a
recognized name in the county’s
farming community before retiring
two years ago.
“David always loved to farm,” Kar-
en says. “About the same time when
he was thinking about retiring, he
was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.”
“He had a slight tremor or shake
in his hand,” she continues. “But I
also noticed he was not swinging his
arms when we walked together.”
The cause of Parkinson’s remains
largely unknown. No two individu-
als with the disease have the same
symptoms.
You may experience tremors, limb
rigidity, along with gait and balance
problems. Additionally, you will
have to deal with an over-all slow-
ness of movement (bradykinesia).
Exhibiting several forms, bradyki-
M arch 2020
SUBMITTED
Pictured are Karen and David Beshears. For two years, David continues
living with Parkinson’s Disease.
nesia is one of the basic indications
of Parkinson’s. Besides a slowness in
your physical activity, there may be
difficulty initiating movements like
when you get out of a chair. Addition-
ally, you might experience a reduction
of automatic actions (like swinging
your arms), along with decreased
facial expressions.
“David’s walking is slower and
stiffer,” Karen says. “It is a struggle
sometimes for him to stand and pull
himself up.”
“He tends to shuffle his feet,” she con-
tinues. “His physical therapy teaches him
to take larger steps and stand up straight
instead of leaning over.”
Besides taking medication for Parkin-
son’s, David also attends physical thera-
py in Somerset. It is set up for Parkinson’s
patients having trouble with balance
and movement.
“He gets worried in large crowds that
somebody might knock him over with his
balance troubles,” Karen says. “He does
have difficulty with steps and downward
slopes that push him forward a bit.”
Despite having setbacks and chal-
lenges, Karen persists they still go on
with most of their daily routines. David’s
doctors want him to remain active in his
everyday life.
I n T ouch with S outhern K entucky • 25