HUDSONVILLE, Mich. – A battle with Parkinson’s disease is leaving one family fighting for a better life. Earl Smith looking for a lift van to help him get around town. "I’ve been looking around for an older van, it doesn’t have to be new."
Smith has been living with Parkinson’s disease for 16 years, and it’s slowly deteriorating his motor skills. He says he falls more than twenty times a day and lives in constant pain.
“I’ve got blood on my elbows and on my knees, it just hurts so much,” Smith said.
FOX 17 spoke with Smith back in May 2015 after he underwent DBS or ‘deep brain stimulation.’ The procedure helped stop his severe tremors and allowed him to ride his motorcycle and do household chores.
A year later, Smith says even simple tasks can be a challenge. Despite the surgery, Smith’s condition has worsened from stage three to stage four Parkinson’s disease.
“Even carrying the boxes or garbage out, I just can’t do that because it throws my equilibrium off,” said Smith. “The strange thing is -- I can’t believe this -- I can ride my pedal bike without falling.”
Smith is now required to use a motorized cart to move around. He's raising money for a mini van to transport the cart. Smith has made a special Gofundme page, A Van for Parkinson's Man, you can click the link to help him continue living a normal life.
