An interview with Kendra Harris: How Lego and Rocksteady Boxing has changed my life with Parkinson’s.
Biography
My Name is Kendra Harris and I not only have Parkinson’s, but I also Have lupus. But this does not define me. I by trade am a Stagehand Electrician. I have been through so much I will tell my story along the way. I been doing stage work sense 1996. But now with pd I’m limited to what positions I can take. But I don’t let that stop me from Finding things I love. I have always Loved Lego and after Parkinson’s diagnosis I saw improvement with cognitive and fine motor skills. I also found rock steady boxing with lots of research. I advocate because they have helped me so much. I also have an amazing life partner whom without her I don’t know where I would be. An amazing Saint Bernard named Leia. Great support system.
Please tell me a little about your background.
I started working with theatre in 1996. In high places and on electrical. I love my job, I still do. In 2002 I was diagnosed with lupus Which was not terrible of problem then Mostly affected me in the sun and heat learned to deal with it. A few years later, loving life and worked hard as lighting tech for my mom’s beauty Pageant I hurt my shoulder they found bone island which ended up causing a lot of problems, but I powered through over year on off in slings and cast braces still working in the lighting industry. Skip ahead to 2020. That this when I became anemic and had terrible pain in my abdomen at the time we were living in Maryland I was working with two theaters and rhino Staging as we know the world hut down. Ended up in the hospital they and they found a large mass in abdomen which was around the size of a softball. This started an entire string of events. Testing and experimental procedures to shrink it. Which just led to infection and frustration. After that we moved back to Las Vegas. Where not even month back I was back in the hospital, but this was good thing because I found Dr St Hill to remove it. Wow I was so much better. I went back to work with Rhino Staging and few months later got hired with Beatles Love. As a spot op. Everything was moving along but this tremor appeared. So back to the doctor I go low behold Parkinson’s. At this point I was also very unstable and was unable to climb so I had to leave Beatles, and I could only take groundwork with Rhino and board op which does not come up often. Then like a shining ray of light I’m researching I find rock steady boxing It really helped balance and stiffness. And I was doing more Lego because it was stimulating and helping my brain and hands work together. That’s when I decided to start advocating. Now after all this my acid reflux was off the chart and lupus flaring. I ended up having two more surgeries, one for esophagus and one to fix all my hernias.
Can you tell me more about your Advocacy?
I found myself posting a lot of Lego projects and showing how some tremors affected my work. Then I was also Posting boxing. I started gaining followers realizing that I could help people and show them how they can deal with having Parkinson’s in my case early on set. I just started more and more. Now it’s a passion.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
My passion is to show people there is so much you can do with Parkinson’s and to never give up. To show how Lego can make you connect cognitive ability to fine motor functions. And How boxing can also help being one the best exercises for Parkinson’s. I love to show people that you can be happy and fight this disease head on.
What type of goals does individuals with Parkinson’s have when working with you?
With any hope to stay positive and find what they love to do that helps fight Parkinson’s. To show the connection and struggles that we deal with every day and show that we can fight together.
What type of training and how long are the programs?
Well not too much of program but I sure love to show people there is more to Parkinson’s then meets the eye. I enjoy helping people at rock steady and it’s almost like support group as well because you can always talk to someone and find out maybe they have same symptom as you sense not everyone has the same ones.
What effect can your Advocacy have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
If you can reach one person. And show with or without Parkinson’s that you can do anything if you try is the goal. Most likely in everyone lifetime you will know someone with Parkinson’s, or you may have it. Hopefully one day there will be a cure but as long there is none, we have to keep fighting the good fight.
What would you like to see as a future goal for your Advocacy?
To keep growing my followers and spreading the word to anyone that will listen.
What events do you participate in?
Rock steady boxing is my favorite. But walks and Friends with Parkinson’s I have worked on studies as well over unlv although with lupus I don’t qualify for most of them of because the symptoms sometimes overlap.
How does this also assist the caregivers?
Well, I had few caregivers from boxing tell they started doing small Lego projects with them it has been very helpful always makes me happy when they do.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
Follow me on Facebook Under Kendra Harris or on Instagram which where I mostly post @lego_builder_with_parkinsons
Like follow share my stuff let’s get the word out.
How can others also become advocates for awareness?
Find the passion that is helping you either as fighter or as a caregiver.
In your opinion what is the key to effective advocacy?
To just stick with it people will respond and get involved in walk programs other people
What other activities do you undertake to help improve and support your daily living Eg exercise and alternative remedies?
I love rock steady boxing I can’t advocate enough for them. But I also walk starch I like the brain ball at home as well anything to keep sharp.
Why should people who don’t have Parkinson’s care about this?
Because every 5 mins someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s so likely hood of knowing someone or being diagnosed your self is high. The more knowledge people have maybe there is more chance for cure.
Have you had any family members or relatives affected by Parkinson’s disease?
Not that I’m aware of.
If you had one song that would tell us more about you or represent your life, which song would it be?
Don’t stop believing
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
Keep fighting the good fight. That is what we can do.
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TogetherForSharon® In memory of my mother, Sharon to voice awareness & hope for a Parkinson’s Disease cure. Sharon’s Son, George