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OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, September 9, 2009 · 22 Former Ford spokesperson remains vocal despite challenges Continued from page 8 Hartford retired from Ford in 1999 and moved to the Wasaga area where he was golfing five days a week. A few years ago however, he and Bernie moved back to the GTA and came to Oakville because most of their kids live in the area. "All the time Jim was at Ford, we never lived here," said Bernie. The couple's family home was in the Etobicoke area. 9 L O C A T I O N S Now settled in the west end, it was during the move that the first signs of Parkinson's became apparent. One day Hartford's hand shook so much, a marker he was using to label boxes, fell into the contents of the box. "In retrospect, my (golf) drives were getting shorter," smiled Hartford. There were changes in his voice and on walks through the neighbourhood, Hartford said he noticed something was happening with his gait. Y O U B E T T E R ! WHY WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS PAYING OVER 50% OFF THE PRICE OF YOUR NEW FURNACE & A/C $ * Cash Up to Back WAIT? T O S E R V E AND GOV. CASH BACK UP TO UP TO UP TO UP TO $3580 + $1000 + $550 + $1350 MANUFACTURERS CASH BACK HYDRO CASH BACK TAX CREDIT *Call for details. Financing Available NO PAYMENT! NO INTEREST! FOR 6 MONTHS *OAC OVER 60,000 SATISFIED CUSTOMERS 6480 LIMITED TIME A+ Rating 9 Locations To Serve You Better! www.aireone.com 1-888-827-2665 905-849-4998 After doing Internet research, Hartford said he began to suspect he might have Parkinson's. He voiced his concerns, but medical officials first thought his arm/shoulder injury was linked to a pinched nerve, so Hartford had rotator cuff surgery. "It didn't help," said Hartford, noting it was upon going to physiotherapy following surgery that the therapist, who had been a qualified doctor in Bulgaria, took one look at him and asked, `So how long have you had Parkinson's?' "She confirmed Dr. Google's diagnosis," smiled Hartford. The disease has quickly brought unexpected changes in Hartford, his lifestyle and his retirement. "It's frustrating, say at family get togethers, when at dinner, instead of leading a conversation, you hang back," he said. Often by the time he has co-ordinated his mouth to offer a comment, the topic of conversation has already shifted. "One time, as a joke, I spoke up and said, `You know, I wanted to say this when you were talking about that, 15 minutes ago.'" Hartford said he is fortunate to SUBMITTED PHOTO SPOKESPERSON: Jim Hartford at a news conference in his younger years. have been directed to Toronto Western Hospital, which is a research facility and has a movement disorder clinic. He has taken part in two research projects to date and it is interesting business he said. So rather than golfing, Hartford is making friends at a Parkinson's support group that meets at St. Jude's or at a Burlington support group that hosts guest speakers and coping with deteriorating abilities. "Fine motor skills are difficult. I can't write long-hand anymore," he said. And sleeplessness, which is another symptom, means he has lots of time to spend on the computer doing something new -- reading whatever he can about his disease. On some days, it's a bad dream, admits Hartford, but he says, "You have to be philosophical." He remains tenacious -- about enjoying life, family and retirement, staying active to fight back the ravages of the disease and in holding out hope for research and a cure. For information, visit www.cno.parkinson.ca.