How Ali family dealt with father’s Parkinson’s

Rasheda Ali, daughter of famous boxer Muhammed Ali, in Auckland where she is promoting her book about Parkinson's disease. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Growing up, Rasheda Ali knew her father, boxing legend Muhammad Ali, had Parkinson's disease but she didn't ever question it - they all just got on with life.

It was only when her own children, now 5 and 7, started asking questions that she didn't know the answers to that she decided to find out more about the disease.

"My youngest son would say why is Poppy shaking? How do you explain that intelligently to a 4-year-old?" For me, it was part of who dad was."

The research culminated in a book called I'll Hold Your Hand So You Won't Fall: A child's guide to Parkinson's disease which Rasheda Ali is in New Zealand to promote during Parkinson's Awareness Week.

She said while her family were always open about the fact her father, now 63, had an incurable disease there was limited information available about it as she grew up and what there was "was very technical and I was overwhelmed with medical jargon".

The book covers the 16 most common symptoms of the disease from tremors and balance to depression and sleep disorders.

"Kids need to know what's going on. Hiding it from them would only do a disservice. We don't want them to grow up not knowing their loved ones," she said.

"When you educate your children about this illness it increases that bond, not teaching them denies the reality ... let's deal with it."

Rasheda Ali said she never felt embarrassed about her father's slurred speech or shaking and believed his unfailingly positive attitude was a big factor in how the family coped following his diagnosis about 23 years ago.

Rasheda Ali opened a seminar about Parkinson's in Auckland yesterday and will also visit Wellington and Dunedin.

Ms Ali's sister, Laila, became a boxer in 1999, despite her father's comments against women boxing.

PARKINSON'S DISEASE

* Parkinson's Awareness Week runs until Monday.

* Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological condition which can affect everyday activities such as talking, walking, swallowing and writing.

* It occurs when cells in the part of the brain that controls movement die.

* The main symptoms are shaking or tremors, muscle rigidity, slowness of movement, impaired balance and co-ordination.

* About 8000 people in New Zealand have the disease.

* There is no cure.