What's Wrong with Grandpa?

By Laura Hartley

A tender children’s book that helps little ones understand Parkinson’s disease through the eyes of love, patience, and family.

About the Book

A Story That Opens Hearts and Starts Conversations

What Is Wrong With Grandpa? is a heartfelt and educational children’s book that helps families explain Parkinson’s disease in a way young children can truly understand.

Told through the eyes of a young boy named Joey, the story begins with confusion, fear, and a painful question many children quietly ask: “Why is Grandpa acting differently?”

As Joey’s mother gently explains what is happening, readers are guided through a powerful and interactive journey that shows what living with Parkinson’s feels like both physically and emotionally.

Through simple language and relatable moments, the book helps children:

Understand why a loved one may move, speak, or act differently.
Build empathy instead of fear or confusion.
Feel safe asking questions about illness and change.
Stay emotionally connected to grandparents and family members.

Inspired by real-life experiences, this story was created to solve a very real problem: helping children understand changes in the people they love, instead of pulling away from them.

What Is Wrong With Grandpa? is not just about Parkinson’s; it’s about love, patience, understanding, and maintaining connection even when things change.

Built on Love

A gentle narrative that reassures children that Grandpa is still the same person they love, he just needs a little extra care.

Easy to Understand

Age-appropriate language and warm illustrations make complex medical topics approachable for young readers

Sparks Empathy

Helps families start meaningful conversations about illness, aging, and the beauty of unconditional love.

The Story Behind the Book

Written in Memory of Paul

“This book was born from watching a child try to understand why their grandpa couldn’t play the way he used to. It was born from real hugs, real tears, and a real family learning to love a little differently.”

Paul was a grandfather who loved his family fiercely. When Parkinson’s Disease began to change the way he moved and spoke, the children in his life didn’t understand why. This book was created so that no child has to feel confused or scared when someone they love starts to change.

His legacy lives on through these pages, a reminder that love doesn’t need steady hands or a strong voice. It just needs to be felt.

Meet the Authors

The Hearts Behind the Story

Laura Hartley & Kay Blevins

Kay Blevins and Laura Hartley are mother and daughter, but the best descriptor for them is “partners.” They forged this relationship in the crucible of coast-to-coast air racing, starting with the Powder Puff Derby. By surmounting intense and dangerous conditions together from storms to engine failures they cultivated the ability to work smoothly together during challenging times.
The journey of husband and father Paul Blevins through Parkinson’s Disease qualified as a “challenging time.” As the body and mind of this adventurous man began to fail,
Kay and Laura worked together to honor his dignity and to provide him as much independence as possible. That included a move to Sun City Hilton Head, South Carolina, where the ground is level and an availability of a huge dog park.
Another gift from Sun City was the Parkinson’s exercise classes, which helped him to keep his strength and balance. Spouses of the participants in the classes talked about the rejection by grandkids who didn’t understand the Parkinson’s symptoms. This is the reason that the book, “What’s Wrong with Grandpa?” was written.
Kay and Laura are still having fun together as partners, enjoying activities in the natural beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Kay Blevins

Co-Author

Kay partnered with her daughter Laura to help bring this heartfelt story to life and guide it through publication, drawing on their shared experiences as a family navigating Parkinson’s together.

The three of them lived together in Sun City Hilton Head with their cockapoo and Riley, until Paul passed away in March 2025, Riley was the excuse for Paul to go to the two and a quarter acre dog park for exercise and camaraderie.

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Give the Gift of Understanding

“Every child deserves to understand.

Every grandparent deserves to be loved without fear.

This book bridges that gap one page at a time.”

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