+ Volume 126 Issue 90
Monday, March 10, 2014
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kansan.com
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CAMPUS
Alzheimer's research progresses while families cope
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Dr. Berl Oakley, left, and Dr. T. Chris Gamblin discuss their findings that suggest some natural fungal products can inhibit buildup of tau, a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
GEORGE MULLINIX
news@kansan.com
It's 2 p.m. on a Friday and Harvey is on his way to visit his wife, Mary. Harvey is let in the locked doors and walks into the naturally lit room where Mary is sitting and mumbling to herself about the warmer weather or perhaps about what's on TV. When Harvey turns the corner, Mary tilts her chin down for a kiss on the forehead and Harvey begins to ask Mary about her day, knowing that he'll only get
a tew incomprehensible mumbles in reply.
Nine years ago, Dr. Mary Steir, a 66-year-old Kansas graduate and retired psychology professor, was bothered by how easily she was forgetting things. She went to a neurologist to figure out what was going on and was told she was just an "absent-minded professor" and that nothing had shown up on her brain scan, MRI or spinal tap.
A year later, Mary was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a disease caused by the
The news hit her hard, but was particularly tough on her then 15-year-old daughter, Katherine. Katherine was dev-
buildup of plaques and tangles in the brain, a disease that is incurable and that is the sixth leading cause of death in the
"We went through the whole drama of her dying. We were told she had three days to live."
HARVEY STEIR
Husband
United States.
astated. Her mother, a physically healthy professor with two Ph.Ds, only had six years
She was told she had six years left to live.
to live. Mary continued teaching at Hartford University in Connecticut, but had to retire when the disease progressed.
Eight years after Mary was told she only had six years left, her doctors told Mary's husband, Harvey, that she'd be dead in three days.
Harvey described her condition as "catatonic."
"She was like a puppet, she couldn't eat, she couldn't drink, she couldn't do nothing on her own," Harvey said.
He called Katherine, now a 23-year-old Ph.D student in
Boston, informing her of the news. Katherine immediately bought a plane ticket, hoping to find her mother alive when she arrived in Kansas City, Mo.
Harvey and Katherine went through an incredibly difficult couple of days.
"We went through the whole drama of her dying." Harvey said. "We were told she had three days to live."
Miraculously, Mary made a recovery and was discharged
SEE RESEARCH PAGE 2A
LOCAL
Fifth homicide since July reported in Lawrence
The city of Lawrence experienced its fifth homicide since July 2013 on the morning of Saturday. The shooting of Patrick Roberts, 39, is the second homicide reported in Lawrence in 2014.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
TOM DEHART
news@kansan.com
A homicide reported Saturday makes the fifth reported homicide in Lawrence since July 2013.
Dustin D. Walker, 29, was arrested on suspicion of murder in the first degree shortly after 9 a.m. on Saturday after a shooting occurred in the 2400 block of Cedarwood Avenue earlier that morning. The victim was identified as Patrick Roberts, 39.
The first homicide of 2014 was reported on Jan. 17, when police officials found the body of Harold Sasko, 52, inside a residence at 2900 block of West 26th Street after responding to a missing persons call regarding Sarah Brooke Gonzales McLinn.
The shooting of Roberts is the second homicide reported in Lawrence in 2014.
Following the discovery of Sasko's body, Gonzales McLinn, who also lived inside of the residence, was reported
missing but was later found in possession of Sasko's car in Everglades National Park in Florida on the morning of Jan. 26. McLinn was named the sole suspect in the case at a news conference on Jan. 27.
Reported homicides in 2013 include the July 17 shooting of Gary Edens, which Brittny Marie Adams, 20, was sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison for the crime, according
Margaret Hopkins was allegedly shot in her sleep by her husband, Larry Hopkins, on
Other reported homicides in Lawrence during 2013 include the shooting of Margaret Hopkins and the stabbing of Wayne Francisco.
to a report from the Lawrence Journal World.
SEE CRIME PAGE 2A
HOMICIDE LOCATIONS
JULY 2013:600 block of Michigan St. NOVEMBER 2013:1600 block of West 2nd Terrace DECEMBER 2013:4300 block of West 24th Place JANUARY 2014:2900 block of West 26th St. MARCH 2014:2400 block of Cedarwood Ave.
QUICK FACTS
Murder of Patrick Roberts, 39, on the morning of March 8
Index
Dustin D. Walker, 29, was arrested on suspicion of murder in the firs; degree shortly after 9 a.m.on March 8
The most recent report of a homicide prior to 2013 occurred in July 2008, according to Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics on the City of Lawrence's website
CLASSIFIEDS 2B
CROSSWORD 5A
CRYPTOQUIPS 5A
OPINION 4A
SPORTS 1B
SUDOKU 5A
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2014 The University Daily Kansan
Don't Forget
To study for your midterms.
Today's Weather
Sunny skies. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
HI: 71
L0: 38
I want it that way.
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