Steven and Janice King have spent more than 29 years loving each other and building a family with deep roots in Florence County. At 76 and 68, they’ve created a happy life and decades of shared memories to reflect upon. In 2019, their life took an unexpected turn. Janice was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that would not only reshape that life but also bring them closer together.
“My mother had Parkinson’s, and she passed away in 2017,” Janice said. “When my daddy passed away in 2019, I was already feeling very fatigued. Somebody came up to me at his funeral and said, ‘You need to go to the doctor. Something's wrong.’”
The Parkinson’s Foundation describes Parkinson’s Disease as a slowly progressive disease, causing a gradual loss of nerve cells in the brain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. Symptoms include a resting tremor, slowness and stiffness of the limbs because dopamine carries signals to the part of the brain controlling movement and coordination.
After his wife was diagnosed, Steven jumped into action to become her full-time caretaker. He became more than a husband; he became someone who could take care of all of Janice’s needs and help to alleviate her daily struggles with the disease. He describes himself as a “fetcher,” but his duties go far beyond that.
“There are some things we wouldn't expect, but I'm glad to do it. I try to take care of her as much as I can and make her lifestyle a little bit better,” said Steven.
“He’s been a rock for me. I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Janice. “I can't button a shirt anymore, and he’ll help me with things like that. It's the little things that he does for me that mean a lot.”
Steven was quick to point out that he is not alone when caring for his wife as she faces this disease. He emphasized that his family and devoted faith in God are what give him the strength and support he needs through this caretaking journey.
“It's not always a spouse. The whole family is involved, whether it’s cooking meals or helping in other ways,” said Steven. “The biggest thing in our life is God. We depend on him a lot. He guides us in a lot of things we do.”
MUSC Health Florence Medical Center physical therapist Nicholas Everetts said he sees a lot of caregivers come into his Parkinson’s Support Group, held on the first Wednesday of every month. He said that around half of the participants are caretakers; they attend to reaffirm that they’re not alone in this journey.
“They are also going through it,” said Everetts. “They have to deal with the condition, too. I would say that their care usually comes from a place of love. The caretaker spends most of their time making sure that the person is doing what they need to do. And I think it's usually a full-time job for them, so their focus is just taking care of that loved one.”
For Steven, his love for his wife has him standing by her side and caring for her through this entire journey. Their love and respect for each other have deepened as they’ve endured this challenge together.
“It’s really hard watching her deteriorate, but I’m glad I’m the one who can help her,” said Steven.
