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Saturday, November 17, 2012 – Daily News Pastimes BY ANDREA K. WALKER The Baltimore Sun (MCT) BALTIMORE — Sometimes it's easy for Vincent Vono to feel down about having to live with Parkinson's disease. The disease has snatched his independence and sense of a normal life. The 76-year-old stopped driving last year as his motor skills slowed. He doesn't cook much because it is too exhaust- ing to clean up afterward. Even a short walk across his tiny apartment is a task some days. has taken away from Vono, it has fostered and strengthened a love for art that first developed when he was a boy. Painting is the one thing that still comes easily to Vono. When he sets his easel up in his living room, Vono can paint for hours. As he paints portraits of his grandchildren or of the madonna and child, his tremors subside and for a moment he forgets he is sick. But for all the disease garbage out of my head." As in all Parkinson's patients, Vono's brain no longer effectively pro- duces the chemical dopamine, which helps control muscle movement. Without dopamine, his brain cannot send mes- sages to his arms, hands, legs or feet. Sometimes his body seems to have a mind of its own. His hands or feet will move in some direction he doesn't intend. Then there are the tremors. They change in intensity depending on his mood — growing stronger when he's anxious, angry or excited. tions," he said. Vono started to detect something was wrong in 2007. He had just moved to Maryland to be close to his son. He was still mourning the death of his wife, whose life was taken by a brain tumor the year before. "It knows my emo- stop. Then his foot would "start doing a dance," he said. arrived at the Parkinson's diagnosis, Vono was scared, confused and angry all at the same time. His functions have deteriorated since the ini- tial diagnosis. While med- ication to replace his body's dopamine helps with some of the symp- toms, nothing can ulti- mately stop the disease from taking over his body. A couple of years ago, When the doctor Vono reached a point where he couldn't care for himself. He wasn't taking his medicine regularly or eating healthfully. He moved into the Four Sea- sons assisted-living home in Bel Air, Md. displayed Vono's work in a common area of the home. Stanley also saw how painting helped Vono deal with his illness. Difficulties living with Asperger "It fills the gap," he said. "It erases all of the The tremors started gradually on the left side of his body. As he drove, his hand would shake. He'd hold his hand very tight and still to make it Dear Annie: I'm in my 30s. Four years ago, I was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome after a two-year career ended in dis- aster. It was my mother who sus- pected what was wrong. It explained the problems I've had — no friends, no social life and the inability to hold down a job, among others. I knew there was something wrong with me. I couldn't figure out what to do at parties or dinners, or why I never had a girl- friend, and I stopped getting invited to get-togethers because I would sit by myself. Even my one friend thought I was weird. Eventually, she stopped speaking to me, too. Annie's Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Since the diagnosis, I've hated myself less, but I have a lot of regret for not having been a better friend. I may have appeared apathetic, myopic, hos- tile, selfish or self-absorbed. I regret that my grandparents may have per- ceived me as uncaring and ignorant. I know it wasn't my fault. I've joined some autism support groups and have met people, but a lot of us are constrained by phobias, tics, medications, etc. Nowadays, there's a lot more that's known about Asperg- er's, and we're no longer seen as freaks. But it's still hard. I haven't told most of DEAR DOCTOR K: My daughter wants me to get a booster shot for pertussis. She says it will help protect her young kids against whooping cough. Is this true? Your daughter is right. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious bacte- rial infection that causes vio- lent coughing. The coughing makes it hard to breathe and produces a deep "whoop- ing" sound. Pertussis can occur at any age, but infants and young children are most likely to become seriously ill from the infection. DEAR READER: When I went to medical school, a vaccine for pertus- sis was radically reducing the number of cases. It was another example of how infectious diseases were going away because of vac- cines. The vaccine has, indeed, made a huge differ- ence. But vaccines only work if people take them, and not every vaccine offers lifetime protection. Looking to achieve some normality in his life, Vono set up his easel on the balcony. He would sit outside for hours painting landscapes or pieces with science-fiction themes, such as tablecloths floating in the air. The owner of the Four Seasons, Roger Stanley, immediately noticed his new resident's talents. He my family about my diagnosis. My grandmother often makes nasty remarks about me. I'm tempted to tell her the reasons for my behavior, but why should I have to explain? She shouldn't say such things to anyone. — New York Dear Annie: For six months, I have been mother to the most wonderful three children through our state's foster care system. ''Sharing the News in Pa.'' inspired me to write down the ''dos'' and ''don'ts'' for adoptive and foster moms. Don't ask, ''Do you have any chil- dren of your own?'' Likewise, do not refer to the biological parents as the ''real parents.'' It's a little jab to our hearts. Never ask why the biological par- ents lost custody. It's none of your busi- ness. Those parents are suffering. And without them, these terrific kids would not exist. Please don't expect your parenting techniques to be applicable to children who have been traumatized, destabi- lized and neglected. Dear New York: We agree that Grandma shouldn't say unkind things, but don't you think you're being a bit unfair to her, as well? You are with- holding information that could make her more understanding and could improve your relationship. It sounds as if you have been angry with her for a very long time. This could be an oppor- tunity to get past it, which would help both of you. "He became completely still when he painted, and he could focus on the painting," Stanley said. "And the tremors would just stop." Dr. Liana Rosenthal, a Johns Hopkins doctor who specializes in neurological disorders, said exercising the brain can help patients with disorders like Parkin- son's cope with the dis- ease. It's not exactly known what happens in the brain, but keeping it active helps improve motor skills, said Rosenthal, an instructor in the neurology department at the Hopkins School of Medicine. Vono, painting has proba- bly become an informal form of physical therapy. Doing something he likes also helps his mood, she said. Rosenthal said that for activity that he enjoys and spending time not thinking about his disease and not being sick," Rosenthal "He is also doing an Please don't assume that we are doing this for financial reimbursement from the state. Please do not be judgmental if the parents don't know more about the child than you think they should. One month before our children were placed in our home, we were presented with 600 pages of medical records, and that didn't include everything. Do consider hosting a shower. Not for the gifts, but for the ritual that rec- ognizes the couple as excited, expec- tant parents. Do be patient with us. Our three school-age children moved in all at once. It was a tremendous adjustment. Do offer to babysit or help as you spans years. He went to an industrial-arts high school in Brooklyn as a teenager and was an illustrator for the Army during the Cold War. said. "We always encour- age patients to find an activity that they enjoy and do it. Staying active is one of the best things people with Parkinson's can do." Vono's love MCT photo Vince Vono of Abingdon, Maryland paints to help cope with his Parkinson's disease. for art But he ultimately pur- sued a career in advertis- ing, practicing his art as a hobby. He worked his way up in the pharmaceutical advertising world, eventu- ally becoming an art direc- tor. he said. he would take art classes on the weekends and find solace in painting as he "I wanted a paycheck," Throughout the years, would with any new parents. Please recognize these children as the strong, resilient, resourceful and intelligent kids they are. Ours have sur- vived circumstances that would throw most adults into a downward spiral. — Massachusetts for your excellent advice. People often don't know how to respond to those who adopt or take in foster children. Your suggestions will help them out tremendously. now become the center of his life. Because of finan- cial reasons, he recently moved from assisted liv- ing into his own apartment in Abingdon, Md. But his easel sits in his living room in front of large win- dows with plenty of sun- light. ing," he said. and his wife raised a fam- ily. If he had it to do all over again, Novo said, he might pursue a career in art instead of advertising. He takes art classes twice a week at the local community college. A friend picks him up for class. His work recently placed in an arts and crafts show. Vono is thinking of trying to sell some of his pieces one day. Vono's first love has Arts & entertainment Art provides relief to Parkinson's patient 3B "It's perfect for paint- Local Businesses: Dear Massachusetts: Thank you children to design an ad for YOUR business! You can sponsor a whole classroom of Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. Booster for Pertussis vaccine protects adults as well as kids Unfortu- Dr. K by Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D. cases in the United States has increased in recent years. There were about 17,000 reported cases in 2009; this year, more than 23,000 cases of pertussis had already been reported by August. To keep kids healthy, adults need to get immunized, too. That's because of something called "herd immunity." When enough people are immu- nized against a disease, it becomes uncommon — simply because the immu- nized people can't catch it — and therefore can't spread it. protect: Herd immunity helps to • Small children, espe- nately, many people resist getting vac- cines, and the protecti v e effects of the pertussis vac- cine tend to decline over time. As a result, the num- ber of pertussis cially infants, who either are too young to be immunized or haven't had enough doses to be fully protected. • People who have prob- lems with their immune sys- tems, many of whom can't get vaccines, and all of whom are more susceptible to infections. Herd immunity works when enough people are immunized. The Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion (CDC) recommends that adults get a Tdap vac- cine (which protects against pertussis, along with tetanus and diphtheria) in place of one of their regular tetanus boosters (the Td shot that is recommended for adults every 10 years). You can get the Tdap vaccine no matter when you last received a Td shot. Get- ting vaccinated with Tdap at least two weeks before com- ing into close contact with an infant is especially impor- tant. By getting a Tdap vac- cine, you'll be helping to keep your grandkids healthy. Even though that's the main entry. Your student-designed ad will be featured in YOU choose the winning message of this column, it is worth remembering that we adults also need protection against the germs spread by little kids. Several months ago a Through a Child's Eyes family with young children visited us, and one of the kids had what we in New England call a "wicked cough." About two weeks later I developed a bad cough, and when I took in a deep breath I let out a loud "whoop!" Like everyone, I've had plenty of coughing illnesses in my life. But I've never (not even as a kid) "whooped." I got better, but I wonder if I caught pertussis from our young visitor. Fortunately, I stopped coughing the next day, and so I never tested myself and never will know if I had it. Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School.To send questions, go to AskDoctorK.com, or write: Ask Doctor K, 10 Shattuck St., Second Floor, Boston, MA 02115. • Published as a full section of The Daily News December 22 • Digital edition stays online for a full year • Top student "ad designers" receive cash prizes! For details and sponsorship reservations call your Daily News advertising representative today! 527-2151 Tuesday, November 20 DAILYNEWS Deadline to agree to sponsor: RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY