Former Hall of Famer Forrest Gregg Diagnosed with Parkinson's

Forrest Gregg.
Photo Courtesy: Mark Lyons

     Seventy-eight year old, Forrest Gregg, nicknamed the "Iron Man" was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is basically when cells are not producing enough in the central nervous system. A more advanced explanation would be that patients would lose brain cells that produce dopamine (one of the chemical keys that allows you to move your muscles). It was named after the doctor James Parkinson, who found the disease.
     Gregg has some of the common symptoms such as hand tremors (the shaking of the hands unwillingly), a stooped posture (looks like your hunched), a shortened stride and soften voice. Sadly, there is currently no sure for Parkinson's disease, but with drugs, exercise and physical therapy, one can delay the effects of the disease. More than five million people worldwide have Parkinson's and when you are one of them, it would be devastating. I know it was for Gregg because Parkinson's gives him a major challenge for himself and also for his family. Gregg's neurologist, Rajeev Kumar, thinks the cause of the disease is the mass amounts of concussions Gregg has received during his football career.
     Gregg has fought and defeated melanoma (the most dangerous type of skin cancer, and it is the leading cause of death from it), and colon cancer (cancer that starts in the large intestine or rectum) ,too. I think Gregg will be able to overcome this disease despite his age because he has lived through other disastrous diseases. For more information on the topic, please go to this article.

By Chopsticks (Ben Yang)