Shaun remains the ‘same old Slicker’

Shaun Slicker — second youngest Parkinson’s sufferer in the region

SHAUN Slicker is a typical man in his 20s who loves rugby, enjoys meeting up with mates and is a proud father to five-month-old son Leland Wiffen-Slicker.

But he is also the second youngest person in the North-West to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

BEATRIZ AYALA spoke to him about living with the condition and his determination to experience life to the full.

IT took three years of hospital tests and wrong diagnoses for Shaun to be told he had Parkinson’s Disease — nine months ago, aged just 23.

The keen rugby fan, who had played for Saddleworth Rangers since he was five years old, first noticed a slight tremor while watching the television about four years ago.

When the tremor developed into a limp, Shaun put it down to ligament damage or a trapped nerve from playing rugby and pushed all thoughts of it aside.

However, the symptoms persisted.

It was when he could not hide the persistent tremors from his family any more that he embarked on a three-year round of medical examinations.

A wide range of causes were diagnosed, from sprains to being labelled a medical mystery following weeks of exploratory procedures by nerve and neuro specialists at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

However, it was a scan at Manchester Royal Infirmary that finally revealed he had Young Onset Parkinsons’s.

Shaun, from Dunwood Park Courts, Shaw, said: “After so many years of not knowing what it was, finding out I had Parkinson’s was a relief while at the same time being a worry.

“It was a shock to my family at first, but they were also relieved to find out what it was.

“Now they’ve got used to the diagnosis and just treat me the same as before.”

Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurological condition which affects movements such as walking, talking and writing.

It is often thought to only affect older people, but one in 20 of the 10,000 people diagnosed with Parkinson’s every year is under the age of 40.

Symptoms can include tremors, stiffness and slowness of movement, but the condition affects each person differently.

Shaun said: “I suffer from stiffness on the left hand side of my body, my finger sticks up and I get very stiff legs.

“I stopped playing rugby when I found out, which was a bit rubbish.

“I used to play every Saturday and it was a big bit of my life, so it was upsetting.

“It bugs me that I can’t work or play rugby, but I am hoping to get into rugby coaching.”

The former Royton and Crompton School pupil cites a liquid drug Apomorphine for helping him to function.

The daily injections give him 12 hours when his symptoms are controlled and he can live a “semi-normal” life.

He said: “The drugs I take mean I don’t shake, I can walk a bit, I’m allowed to drive, they keep me going.

“Without the drugs I wouldn’t be able to get about.

“When people find out I have Parkinson’s they are amazed I’m not old as there is a common misconception that you have to be old to have it.

“At first my friends were shocked but then they thought ‘same old Slicker’.

“I still go to the pub but stick to orange juice as alcohol doesn’t mix with my drugs. I’ve lost four stone as a result.

“And I still have a laugh with my mates.”

He credits friends Paul Hanley and Steve Mould for helping him to organise a 4.5-mile fundraising fancy-dress walk from the Last Orders Pub, in Oldham town centre, to Delph Village.

Held last month, about 40 people donned costumes and took part in the event and raised £826 for the Parkinson’s Disease Society.

It was so successful, Shaun and his pals are planning other fundraising efforts.

He said: “My message to anyone who thinks they may have Parkinson’s is to get checked out. If you have it, don’t worry, it doesn’t ruin your life. I’m hoping that because I’m young that it will develop a lot slower.

“Having Parkinson’s hasn’t changed my attitude or my humour.

“Thinking about the future bothers me a bit but the drugs make me ‘normal’ and I’m hoping technology and treatment will continue to develop.

“I’m hoping they can find a cure in my lifetime for Parkinson’s.”

Dr Kieran Breen, director of research at the Parkinson’s Disease Society, said: “A younger person may have many years of experiencing only minor symptoms before it becomes necessary to take medication.

“Keeping fit, eating well and having a positive outlook may also help people to lead a full and active life.

“Research funded by the Parkinson’s Disease Society is helping people to overcome many of the symptoms of the condition.

“The charity is leading the work to find a cure, and we’re closer than ever.”

For more information visit www.parkinsons.org.uk  or call the freephone helpline on 0808-800 0303.


Look for signs

Other symptoms may include an altered posture, difficulties with balance, speech and writing, and sleep difficulties.

An estimated 120,000 people in the UK have Parkinson’s — one in 500 of the general population.

There is no cure, but a range of treatments can control symptoms, including drugs, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), and physical therapies such as physiotherapy.

Since 1969, the Parkinson’s Disease Society has spent around £45million on research into all aspects of the disease. Around 90 research projects are currently supported to the tune of over £15million.