Fairhope Parkinson's patient enters film in contest to awareness of disease

FAIRHOPE, Alabama -- Susie Glickman is an amazing line dancer.

It’s not because she can execute the Cupid Shuffle or the Electric Slide better than most.

Rather, it is because every step takes extra effort now that this 67-year-old Fairhope woman has Parkinson’s disease.

“I have it on my left side,” said Glickman, who was diagnosed with the chronic, progressive movement disorder in 2007. “I went in to see my doctor because my left arm didn’t feel like it was part of my body. When I found out it was Parkinson’s, I was shocked. I wanted to find out as much as I could about the disease.”

At first glance, Glickman’s condition isn’t obvious.

While moving a little slower these days, Glickman is fairly nimble. But this spunky grandmother struggles with tremors, weakness and balance issues.

Turning pages can be tiresome — or downright impossible. Often, she succumbs to exhaustion.

Nevertheless, Glickman considers herself lucky.

“The mid 60s is the prime age to get Parkinson’s,” she said. “It usually progresses slowly when you are diagnosed in your 60s. But the younger you have it, the faster it progresses.”

Glickman manages to move steadily while leading line-dancing classes in Mobile and Baldwin counties. The Los Angeles native also moonlights as a part-time joke writer for longtime employer and close friend Dolly Parton.

“I used to be Dolly’s personal secretary,” she proclaimed, her eyes dancing with delight. “Now I write the jokes she uses at her appearances.”

Today, Glickman has combined her dancing and writing talents to pursue her latest passion: educating others about Parkinson’s.

Glickman recently wrote, produced, choreographed and starred in “Dancing Feet Help Defeat Parkinson’s,” a 4-minute, 9-second video featuring 175 dancers at the James P. Nix Adult Activity Center in Fairhope doing the “Parkinson’s Disease Stomp Line Dance.”

She entered the short film in the American Academy of Neurology Foundation’s third annual Film Festival competition to raise awareness about why more research is needed to cure brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, autism, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

Judges will select the first- and second-place winners and the third-place winner will be chosen by popular vote. Nearly 300 films have been submitted since the festival began in 2010 and Glickman’s video is among 104 in this year’s contest.

Voting opened last week and people can view and vote for their favorite video through March 8 at http://www.NeuroFilmFestival.com.

The winner of the “Fan Favorite” award will receive a certificate and recognition at the 2012 Neuro Film Festival on April 22 in New Orleans. The festival will be held in conjunction with the foundation’s 64th annual meeting, the world’s largest meeting of neurologists with 10,000 attendees.

“My goal is to get as many people aware of this as possible and then get them to vote,” Glickman said. “We have a really good chance of winning because of the video’s originality.”

In the film, a room packed with men and women wearing bright red T-shirts and white pants follow Glickman in a dance set to the tune “Jingle Bells.”

As the video begins, participants shuffle their feet and wave their arms in unison, following Glickman’s lead. Before the song plays, Glickman’s voice can be heard reciting “The Parkinson’s Plea,” a poem she penned.

Then the music begins: “Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s, it’s a brain disease. Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s brings us to our knees. Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s makes our bodies freeze. Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s, help us cure it please ...”

Nearly 1 million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson’s disease. The cause is unknown, and although there is presently no cure, there are treatment options such as medication and surgery to manage its symptoms. The primary motor signs of Parkinson’s disease include the following.

Tremor of the hands, arms, legs, jaw and face. Bradykinesia, or slowness of movement. Rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk. Postural instability or impaired balance and coordination.

Glickman is hopeful her film will place in the top three. But, she says, “I think the video already is a winner.”

She asked Parkinson’s patients, their families and caregivers as well as friends from church and her line-dancing students in Fairhope and Mobile to appear in the video.

“I solicited everyone in town,” she said.

When the day of filming arrived, Glickman was overwhelmed.

“We had 175 people in the room and I didn’t know they would come until they showed up — and the mood was captured perfectly,” she said. “Most of the people didn’t line dance, but it turned out to be amazing.”

Glickman has been working for Parton since the 1970s, convincing the entertainer to hire her after showing up consistently at several of Parton’s California appearances, offering her lyric writing services.

“I told everyone I would be working for Dolly Parton one day,” Glickman said. “Eventually, Dolly said, ‘Give that squirrelly fan a job.’”

Glickman moved to Fairhope in the 1980s after working with Baldwin County native and author Fannie Flagg on Parton’s television show.

“I got sand in my shoes and that was it,” she said.

Parkinson’s may have slowed Glickman’s gait. But neither age, nor a progressive neurological disease can erode Glickman’s determination.

The same tenacity that landed her a job with Parton years ago is evident in her recent project.

“I truly believe that if you put your mind to something, you can get it done,” said Glickman, flashing a smile. “This film was a dream of mine.”

By LESLEY FARREY PACEY, Correspondent

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Fairhope Parkinson's patient enters film in contest to awareness of disease