Fighting an enemy from within: Peterson captain defies Parkinsons Published April 1, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. Martin Jackson 70th Intelligence Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The five-year-old curls up in his lap remaining focused as she listens intently and follows along although the storybook is shaking almost rhythmically. He tries his best to steady the book but it doesn't matter to her, because for as long as she can remember, these hand tremors are just how her daddy has always been. Even though to his daughter his right hand has always been like this, for Capt. Daniel Harding, from the 544th Intelligence Group, who has been living with young-onset Parkinson's disease for more than four years, coping with this disease is an ever evolving process. Although Parkinson's disease is found more commonly in the elderly, a few individuals between the ages of 20 and 39, like Captain Harding, develop young-onset Parkinson's. A chronic progressive neurological disease, Parkinsons affects a small area of the brain that transmits signals, that when working normally, coordinates smooth and balanced muscle movement. Parkinson's disease causes nerve cells in that area to die, and as a result, the body's voluntary muscle movements are affected. Captain Harding first knew something was wrong when he recognized the hand tremors when he was driving in October 2003 while PCSing to Hurlburt Field in Florida. "We were in the process of moving and while I was driving my wife Beth asked me why my thumb was twitching," said Captain Harding. "Obviously I didn't know why, so I immediately went to the doctor." Captain Harding was first misdiagnosed with having essential tremors, which is characterized by shaking of hands. But, since his problems were right side dominant, he was sent to the hospital at the University of Alabama where the doctor told him he was experiencing Parkinsonian symptoms. "I was shocked, asking the doctor, 'Are you telling me I have Parkinson's disease,'" he said. "My first thoughts were, I am 33-years-old how can I have Parkinsons. I was so distraught, there is no way I could have it...this is a disease for grandfathers." His being diagnosed with the rare young-onset Parkinson's disease was also shocking to his wife Beth, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant and Hebrew linguist. "When he called me and told me he had Parkinson's, I was immedialty on the internet finding out all I could," said Beth. "We tried to learn as much as we could, I even took a Neurobiology class to learn more." For Captain Harding, dealing with Parkinson's disease as an active duty Air Force member has not been easy. He is currently undergoing his third medical board in less than five years. "The Air Force has been great in supporting us, in getting the proper therapy and other means of coping with this," said Beth. "Despite not having much experience with young-onset Parkinson's, our doctors are very understanding and open to new practices in fighting this." From enduring through speech and physical therapy to having quarterly visits to neurologists and receiving medication by intravenous injections every three days, functioning with Parkinson's could seem overwhelming for this Air Force officer. "Since this affects my motor functions, I learned very quickly this is not something that is going to kill me but it is something I am going to be challenged with," Harding said. "Believe it or not, the hardest part of my day is getting the buttons on my BDU blouse done-up." Instead of giving up on life in the Air Force and functioning normally in society, Captain Harding has instead accepted this challenge by researching and turning to support groups. "I have never been a quitter, I love the Air Force, and my health has always been important to me. If anything, having Parkinson's disease has driven me to maintain this focus." said Captain Harding. "The way I see it, I am going to be challenged with this the rest of my life so I am doing all I can to make the best of it." He is not only raising his own awareness but also that of the local and military communities as he is sponsoring the 1st Colorado Parkinson's Awareness Run on April 6, at America the Beautiful Park in downtown Colorado Springs. He has set a personal goal of raising $10,000 for charity through this event to go to Parkinson's Foundations. "I really want to help raise money to fight the disease and my Air Force lifestyle leads me to running," said Captain Harding. "Although it may not be much in the big scheme of things; I see it as the money we raise through this event could be what they need to put researchers over the edge, giving them what they need to find a cure." Captain Harding is working closely with the local Colorado Parkinson's Foundation and Pikes Peak Roadrunners on making the run a success. "There is a lot that goes into coordinating a run like this but one thing I'm not lacking in is volunteers," said Captain Harding. "Volunteers are amazing people and the Air Force is full of them." From his daily routines in dealing with the disease, to raising local community awareness through the run, Parkinson's disease certainly plays a large role in his life. "I am looking forward to my future in the Air Force, and though this will challenge me I refuse to let it define me," said Captain Harding. "It has definitely helped me to reprioritize my life, rebalancing my personal choices so that I can be the best father, husband and leader possible." More information on the Colorado Parkinson's Awareness Run on April 6 can be found here or go to www.active.com to register for the race or donate to the cause.