Coach Tim Touchberry is an amazing man that has positively impacted many lives throughout his career in the school system and life in general. Coach Touchberry started teaching and coaching in August of 1972 at North Charleston High School, and moved to Stall High School a year later to coach JV Football and Varsity Basketball. After four years at Stall, Coach Touchberry moved to Summerville High School for the next 15 years where he coached JV Football, Varsity Basketball, and Track during his time as a Greenwave. When Dorchester District 2 expanded, Coach Touchberry moved to Fort Dorchester High School to be its first Athletic Director and head Track Coach. Coach Touchberry remained at Fort Dorchester until May 2006 when he retired. During his 34 years in the school system, Coach Touchberry earned numerous awards and designations (too many to name here!), but most importantly, he positively influenced and helped shape many of the lives he has come in contact with. While everyone Coach Touchberry has ever met has been like family to him, he has been surrounded by a loving family through all of this—his wife Debby, children (and their spouses)—Julie (Ron), Russ (Jamie),& Reid (Caitie), and now five grandchildren—Sage & Beckham Touchberry, Jacob Riel, and Amara & Rand Touchberry. When Coach Touchberry was not working, he enjoyed, and continues to enjoy, the luxuries of the Lowcountry—bottle hunting, shrimping, and boating—among others. In 2003, Coach Touchberry was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He is admired deeply by all of his family and friends!
Parkinson’s Disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain. These dying neurons affect the dopamine levels, which send messages to the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination. As the disease progresses, dopamine levels decrease and leave a person unable to control movement normally. Some of the common motor side effects of Parkinson’s is tremors, slowness of movement, muscular rigidity or stiffness, and postural instability. Some may also experience pain, dementia or confusion, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, cognitive changes, and fear or anxiety.
Parkinson's affects between one and one and a half million Americans, with 60,000 people being diagnosed in the United States each year. The average age of onset is 60, but approximately 4% of cases are diagnosed before the age of 50. Parkinson's can be diagnosed through tests and is best done by a neurologist that is experienced in and has training in assessing and treating Parkinson's. Ideally, one should visit a movement disorder specialist, which is available at The Medical University of South Carolina. Currently, there is no cure. Treatment options consists of management of symptoms through medication and surgery. Exercise can be a great way to help those with Parkinson's. (Source: Parkinson's Disease Foundation, www.pdf.org)
Parkinson’s Disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain. These dying neurons affect the dopamine levels, which send messages to the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination. As the disease progresses, dopamine levels decrease and leave a person unable to control movement normally. Some of the common motor side effects of Parkinson’s is tremors, slowness of movement, muscular rigidity or stiffness, and postural instability. Some may also experience pain, dementia or confusion, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, cognitive changes, and fear or anxiety.
Parkinson's affects between one and one and a half million Americans, with 60,000 people being diagnosed in the United States each year. The average age of onset is 60, but approximately 4% of cases are diagnosed before the age of 50. Parkinson's can be diagnosed through tests and is best done by a neurologist that is experienced in and has training in assessing and treating Parkinson's. Ideally, one should visit a movement disorder specialist, which is available at The Medical University of South Carolina. Currently, there is no cure. Treatment options consists of management of symptoms through medication and surgery. Exercise can be a great way to help those with Parkinson's. (Source: Parkinson's Disease Foundation, www.pdf.org)
