DELPHOS — A support group for those with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and their caregivers will start May 22 at the Delphos Public Library meeting room.
Patricia Sherrick, who was diagnosed with PD in 1996, felt there was a need for a support group in this area.
“My doctor in Toledo encouraged me to do this after I mentioned there wasn’t a support group centrally located in this area,” she said.
Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that occurs when certain nerve cells (neurons) in the brain die or become impaired. An estimated one and a half million people in the United States have PD.
It affects more people than multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), muscular dystrophy and myasthenia gravis combined.
PD affects about 1 in 100 Americans over the age of 60, which is also the average age of onset. While the illness is less common at younger ages, it does occur. The exact number of cases in younger people is difficult to determine but it is estimated that five to 10 percent of all persons with Parkinson Disease are diagnosed prior to age 40.
Sherrick has a rehab regime of stretching exercises to improve mobility.
“The cold weather affects me and I have trouble with the sciatic nerve in my back,” she admits.
But Sherrick has remained positive and creative over the years, raising five children with her husband, Jim, and is now blessed with 17 grandchildren.
Sherrick retired this year after working for 10 years in home health care through Lima Memorial Hospital.
“I started out working in the rehab department and looked for something that might be a little easier for me with my PD,” she said.
Some of her patients with PD themselves touched Sherrick’s heart, leading her to write poems sharing her Christian faith and creating songs of inspiration. Sherrick’s residence is now  home for three furry canine friends of her former patients.
Sherrick submitted her song “Lamb of God,” on her CD “He Gives My Heart Its Song,” and won the audio artistic expression award at the World Parkinson Congress in Washington, D.C., in 2006.
Her poem, “The Little Lady and the Lord,” was written for a former PD patient. Sherrick had the poem inscribed over a photo of a former dear neighbor, Catherine Bradshaw, age 91.
“She now lives at Vancrest and I gave it to her for her apartment,” said Sherrick.
Sherrick is organizing all her many poems, songs, and photos created for family and friends with the intention of creating a book.
“Time is short and I want to tell the story of Christ in memories of song and word,” she said.
Sherrick teaches Sunday School at Lima Baptist Temple and sings with several groups: Monica Stevens Singers, Sisters in Song Chapter and Sweet Adelines International Barber shoppe.
The PD support she is sponsoring is free and open to anyone suffering from the disease, their caregivers or those who would just like to learn more about the disease.
The Allen-Van Wert Counties Support Group will hold its first meeting from 1:30-3 p.m. May 22 at the Delphos Public Library, 309 W. Second St. Future meetings are scheduled at 1:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday each month for June, July and August.