September
15, 1999. One
is a surgeon, who teaches in a medical school in Arizona.
The other is a budding psychologist, who is working on his
doctorate degree.
Dr. Mort Doran and Duncan McKinlay are two totally different
individuals, but share a common bond and illness -- Tourette
Syndrome (TS).
Last Saturday, at the Best Western Hidden Valley Resort,
the two men spoke on this little known disease in a seminar
sponsored by the Tourette
Syndrome Foundation of Canada.
Titled "Living In Disorder", Doran and McKinlay
offered insight and encouragement to a group of 76 people
made up of teachers, parents, and victims of Tourette Syndrome.
"The main reason for this seminar is to get a support
group started in this area," said organizer Ann Stephenson,
who, along with her daughter, suffers from Tourette Syndrome.
"We want to help people who are afflicted with TS as
well as educating the public to cope with victims of this
disease."
Tourette Syndrome is a neurological or neurochemical disorder
characterized by tics - involuntary, rapid, sudden movements
or vocalizations that occur repeatedly at irregular intervals.
Eye blinking, head jerking, shoulder shrugging, yelping
and throat clearing are some of the common characteristics
of TS. There is currently no cure for the disease.
"TS is a legitimate disorder like cancer, diabetes,
and heart disease", said Doran. "There are
both positive and negative aspects of TS. On the good
side, especially in children, there is a tremendous amount
of enthusiasm, creativity and imagination. If only
we can encourage kids to get past their disorder, they can
achieve just about anything they want."
Doran, who twitches, shakes and touches his knees, was 37
years old by the time he discovered (through a radio show)
that he had TS. He was already a surgeon, and learned
to compensate for his twitching habits.
"Every time I felt one of my tics coming on, I would
back off my surgery, do my twitch, and then resume again,"
said Doran. "Naturally it was disconcerting for
the patient and medical staff."
Uttering
a high pitch bark, frequent eye blinking, neck cracking
and head twitches during his lecture, McKinlay spoke directly
to TS victims and their families offering practical advice
and words of hope.
"When I was growing up, I thought I was a freak, and
at one time, I tried to kill myself," said McKinlay.
"It wasn't until I was 19 years old (McKinlay is
25) when I read an Ann Landers column about TS, that I understood
my problem. It was a major breakthrough in my life
and the beginning of a new Duncan."
As a result of his enlightenment, McKinlay pursued psychology
in school to learn more about TS and to help others cope
with the disease.
"Education is the key for both victim and society,"
said McKinlay. "My message to parents with children
afflicted with TS is that life is not over and there are
things that can be done. TS doesn't have to hold
anyone back. It's like the analogy of an oyster.
From silt and salt can bring a pearl of beauty. All
it takes is the right attitude and inner strength, and you
will succeed."
Although there is medication to help control TS, both Doran
and McKinlay are concerned that it might inhibit positive
aspects of the disease.
"Parents want quick fixes and if you try to suppress
one thing, you're going to give up something else, such
as enthusiasm," said Doran. "Management
of the disease and channeling tics to more subtle and appropriate
times is important."
It is estimated that there are about 10 people in Huntsville
with TS. The statistics vary from 1 in 2000 to 1 in
every 100 people.
