Mike Stewart continues to roll strikes

We have all encountered people in our lives that inspire us to be better. These people, through everyday interactions, seem to lift up those around them and give us hope in our own humanity. The best way to describe these extraordinary individuals would be to call them what they are, lifters.

Lifters raise our souls to heights never expected and inspire us to lift others. Mike Stewart is one such lifter who should be recognized for the amazing person he is, and for the daily inspiration he gives to others around him. Thank you for being a wonderful one of a kind lifter to the people around you.

If you are a person who frequents our local bowling center then you will no doubt recognize Fernley’s Stewart. He loves to bowl. It has made up a very large part of his life for close to 50 years. At one time Stewart wanted to be the best bowler in the world. In his world, on at least 42 occasions, he was.

Bowling offers the competitor something almost no other sport does, the chance at perfection. Someone might, during a day match your perfection, but the moment all 10 pins fall, just as they did 11 times previous in that game you are the best in the world. It might only last seconds, minutes or hours, but when that 300 occurs you’re the best. Today, Stewart strives to be the best bowler he can be, but today Stewart has Parkinson’s.

This could be a sad story. It often is with Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s Disease is caused when neurons in the brain gradually break down or die, and this death results in the inability to produce the chemical messenger dopamine. The lack of dopamine in the system causes a break in the transmission and communication between the brain and the muscles. This can cause a variety of problems, but the main one is loss of muscular control. For example, a person suffering from Parkinson’s can lose their ability to swallow, blink, digest, or even move the muscle they want to move. It may also cause muscles to fire and contact irregularly without the ability to control them.

Stewart’s Parkinson’s localized in his left thigh, moved down his leg to his calf, up his left

side to his arm, and to the muscles throughout his back. Stewart describes his symptoms as having a Charlie horse that doesn’t go away, never heals or relieves the cramp, and it seems gets worse over time. As a result sleeping is no relief. The amount of sleep never exceeds a couple hours concurrent. Four hours non-concurrent is a good night.

It’s not a sad story. It’s a hard story. Imagine lacking the ability at times to smoothly pour a cup of coffee, to tie shoes, to simply hold certain objects. Or sometimes nothing. Your mind says stand up, get out of the car, move your hand. Only the muscles don’t respond. Now add the element of being in constant pain and attempting an athletic activity; an activity like bowling.

Oh but there’s still more. Stewart has developed rotator cup issues in his right arm. His bowling arm. Additionally in 2013 Stewart survived a near fatal car accident that required a stainless steel shank to be placed in his right clavicle, so more damage was done to his right arm. After all of this, a lot of people might have decided to put away their bowling shoes and concentrate on just living with their disability, but that would just not work for a lifter such as Stewart.

Unable to use his right arm without more surgery, Stewart taught himself to bowl left handed. This is his arm that is affected by the Parkinson’s; however, you may not suspect that watching him when he steps up to the lane and delivers a consistently accurate throw over and over.

It’s a hard story because Stewart is a great bowler. Perhaps with his Parkinson’s he’s never been greater; not necessarily reflected in his scores, but certainly in his determination. Stewart has bowled 42 perfect 300 games in his lifetime. He will most likely never bowl perfection again. Every game, every throw now requires so much effort. I think maybe each strike he throws now may give him more joy than the thousands of strikes he’s made in the countless games he’s bowled in the last 50 years. Maybe more than the 504 strikes he made in those 42 perfect games. His smile seems to confirm that. However his smile is not dependent on strikes. His smile, attitude, and willingness to help others are a testament to his character and ability to rise above himself and his disability to be an inspiration to those around him.

When Stewart was 15, his neighbors — his extended family— took him bowling. It clicked. It was something Stewart had a desire for. At 16 he became an employee of the local bowling alley. The pay wasn’t great, a dollar an hour, but he could bowl a certain number of games per week free as part of his compensation. Those early career practice games eventually led him to becoming one of the best bowlers in the Chicago area. Stewart’s first 300 game, at the age of 24, was the first 300 game bowled in his hometown alley, Palos Bowl. It had been open for 16 years. Over the years he would bowl 41 more of those perfect games. Along with that it was pretty common for him to carry the highest average of any one in the leagues he participated in. His average was 228 one season. He’s had three 800 series in sanctioned play. The highest being 837. Do the math. Eight hundred divided by three equals two hundred sixty-seven. Three games of 267 will give you an 801 series. That is some fantastic, out of this world bowling! Good enough to be professional.

Stewart did bowl professionally. He went on the circuit for 10 years. It’s not like basketball, golf, or baseball. There are no multi-million dollar contracts or huge purses, you’re not drafted into the league. A few on the very top can make a living bowling. Without sponsors most professionals wouldn’t make enough for a family to live on. Sponsorships come to the top finishers. Sponsorships must be found, pursued, begged for by most pros. Like Stewart, most professionals are doing it because they love it, not because it is profitable. Stewart’s best finish was 13th in a tournament. That speaks to the talent and ability of bowler’s 1-12. Professional bowling is highly competitive and the opportunities go to a rare few.

Stewart has few regrets. He’s bowled all over the country. He’s met some great people and very good bowlers. Stewart liked to go into bowling establishments and ask about the best bowlers there. Those were the ones he wanted to bowl. He competed with a lot of great bowlers that way. Some he lost to. More times he won. Sometimes a wager was involved.

Stewart had to make a living, so he did what he had to at times. He worked construction, repair shops and the miscellaneous jobs from time to time. He spent 18 years in the telephone business. He had jobs, was successful in them but those were just jobs. It wasn’t bowling.

Stewart lives everyday courageously. Stewart’s wife, Sue, who he says is the courageous one, lives with Multiple Sclerosis. Both are lifters.

Stewart use to lift a 16-pound ball when he bowled professionally. Stewart has had to reduce the weight of the ball he throws today down to 12 pounds. Despite that Stewart is a Heavy Lifter.

If you would like more information on Parkinson’s the following websites may provided the needed resources: American Parkinson Disease Association Inc.-Nevada ADRC at www.nevadaadrc.com, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org, and VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System at www.reno.va.gov.