Richard Ruth and his wife Carol Ruth lived in Belleville from 1977 until 1998. Richard came down with a rare disease called Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) this disease is very rare and often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s.
This disease is fatal with the life expectancy between 7 to 9 years after diagnosis, but differs in each person.
Richard was officially diagnosed in 2006 and passed away in 2009. He was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2004, but probably exhibited signs earlier, said his wife.
An event is being held this Sunday, April 12, to bring awareness to the rarity of this disease. Arbor Brewing Company, 114 E. Washington Street, Ann Arbor 48104 is hosting Tim’s MSA Shoe that continues to travel the globe.
Carol Ruth invites the public to come and support MSA Awareness and pose with the MSA Shoe. Donations are welcome and all monies will go towards the research of this devastating disease.
For more information see www.MSAshoe.org .
Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a rare, degenerative neurologic condition that affects both men and women, usually starting in their 50s or early 60s. MSA is considered a type of Parkinsonism but with more widespread effects on the brain and body.
The condition was first identified in 1962 and named Shy-Drager syndrome for two physicians who reported patients showing a combination of Parkinson-like movement disorders and problems with the autonomic or body-regulating division of the nervous system.
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