ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Parkinson’s disease can be a tough topic to discuss with your children, but a University of New Mexico professor wants to make that talk a little easier. He’s using his own story to educate people about the disease.
Losing a loved one to a debilitating disease. UNM professor Dr. George Ackerman has worked for years to spread awareness about Parkinson’s disease after it claimed his mother’s life six years ago. “She had it for about 18 years. I didn’t even know the word Parkinson’s, what it meant. She lived about I’d say 14, 13 years without really anyone noticing,” said Dr. Ackerman.
Dr. Ackerman has written several books about Parkinson’s, but he’s come out with a new book tailored to children and families. It’s called “I Love You, Grandma Sharon!” He said he wanted to explain what Parkinson’s looks like when it affects a loved one. “I’ve been through it, I’ve seen it, and it’s hard to tell your child or even an adult what’s happening to their loved one due to Parkinsons,” said Dr. Ackerman…