In the Hot Seat: Her book aims to educate about Parkinson's

Published 12:00 am PST Friday, January 12, 2007
Story appeared in SCENE section, Page J3
http://www.sacbee.com/107/story/105834.html

Parkinson's disease has made front-page headlines, especially because of actor Michael J. Fox's efforts to put a face -- his own -- on this devastating illness.

Now, a local woman's experience with Parkinson's comes to the forefront inthe form of a book, "My Grandpa Has Parkinson's."

Margot Grant Evans lost her father, Ivor McPherson Grant, to the disease on Dec. 21, 2000.

She started writing the book in 2004. It was published last year by Vantage Press. One of her goals was to help her oldest child, Grant, understand what was happening to "Grandpa."

Today, the most important goal is raising funds for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (www.michaeljfox.org).

To share more of her poignant story, we asked Evans, 41, to get comfy in the Hot Seat.

Q: When was your dad diagnosed with Parkinson's and how did it impact your family?

A: He had it 10 years. My parents were living in Huntington Beach. Interestingly, he was diagnosed the same year as Muhammad Ali, Pope John Paul and Michael J. Fox. I have three older siblings (all living in California), and I was married and living in east Sacramento. What I learned was that, for as long as our mother was able to care for him, it became so important to find the right care for him the last three or four years of his life.

Q: How old was Grant when your father died?

A: My son had turned 2. He was asking questions before and after my Dad died. Like, how come he wasn't in the same house as Nanna. My father was in a nursing home, and there's such a striking difference to children when they visit. The residents often are in wheelchairs. They don't move much. They stare. He really saw my father slowing down and showing the physical effects of the disease.

Q: How did his passing affect you?

A: He was 72 and, being the youngest, I really looked up to my father. He was all-encompassing and very protective. Then this reversal of life happens, and he needs us to take care of him. There's not a day that I don't think of him. And that's why it was so important that I find a way to have a voice in getting the word out about what I call the "Parkinson's family."

Q: How did the book deal come together?

A: We put up the money and found Vantage Press, which also supplied the illustrations. It's strictly to raise funds for research. Once we sell 50 books, Vantage will write a check to the Fox foundation.

Q: Do you have other children? And what's daily life like for you?

A: Grant is now 8 and in second grade. I have 3-year-old twins (a boy and a girl). My husband, Chris, is an oncologist and chairman of the urology department at UC Davis. I'm a nurse, but now I'm at home with the kids, serving as a homeroom mom and art docent for Grant's class.

Q: Any hobbies, favorite movies?

A: Growing up in Huntington Beach I loved the beach movies. I play tennis. But what we love the most -- as a family -- is to go to Tahoe. Grant is on the ski team, and we get energized there.

For more information: "My Grandpa Has Parkinson's" costs $7.95 plus $3 shipping. Call (800) 882-3273.

-- Leigh Grogan

Reach her at lgrogan@sacbee.com

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Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Grandpa-Parkin...e=UTF8&s=books

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Team Fox for Parkinson's Research

Excerpt from September 2006, The Fox Team News
http://www.teamfox.org/atf/cf/%7B718...Newsletter.pdf

Calendar Highlights:
"Author and Team Fox member Margo Grant Evans will donate 100% of the proceeds from the sale of her self-published book 'My Grandpa Has Parkinson's.' The book highlights a child's journey through understanding aging and illness. 'My Grandpa Has Parkinson's' is dedicated in loving memory to her father and written to help other parents confront the challenge of explaining Parkinson's to their kids. For more information contact Vantage Press 800-882-3273."

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