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Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, April 8-11, 2017 B-7 The Park Record Fighting Parkinson’s with punches By DOMINIC VALENTE The Daily Herald PROVO, Utah (AP) — Sheila Powell had just received news her father had died when she came into the doctor’s office to hear another four words that she wasn’t ready for: “You have Parkinson’s disease,” the doctor told her. After a battle with breast cancer nearly a decade before, Powell, from Lehi, had seen her fair share of hospital rooms, doctor’s offices and operating rooms. She wasn’t ready for another fight. “I was floored,” she said. “I mean, after so many fights I thought, ‘please not another thing!’ But you have to get up again. You have to fight. Parkinson’s was no different for me ... I had to fight.” The Mayo Clinic defines Parkinson’s disease as a “progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement.” But the disease is so much more: Apathy, depression and sometimes confusion are also side effects to the neurological disorder, on top of the telltale tremors one exhibits with the progression. Essentially, Parkinson’s — or PD, as many call it — slowly takes over the body. It begins with the aforementioned symptoms, then ataxia (impaired balance) and slowed movement set in. The disease has no cure and it eventually takes the patient’s life. After Powell’s diagnosis, she began to feel the initial symptoms — depression, apathy, a small tremor in her left arm — until one day she was unable to swing her left arm. “That’s when things got bad,” said Lee Powell, Sheila’s husband. “We went to a conference up in Salt Lake, and got some info, but it wasn’t until our second conference at the U (University of Utah) that we really found something we were looking for.” What happens next in the story is a bizarre scene involving a punching bag and a woman in her 90s up on a stage donning big pink punching gloves. “So we’re sitting there, listening to the speaker,” Lee said. “Then he brings up an old woman, in her 90s — 93? 94 maybe? And she gets up out of her wheelchair and starts beating the hell out of this bag.” That was when things changed for Sheila. She saw that woman and said to herself, “Well, I can do that.” Fast forward to when Sheila received a few pamphlets and some brochures. She had also done a bit of research on the ben- efits of boxing as it pertains to Parkinson’s. What she found was not necessarily definitive results, but some convincing anecdotal evidence on how boxing can slow down, and even sometimes reverse, the disease’s symptoms. Enter Legends Boxing, a small boxing gym in Lehi. The gym is home to many programs, but it specifically hosts a program called Rock Steady Boxing that is geared toward patients with the disease. The program is specifically designed to help patients get back the mobility, balance, strength and agility they once had. Sherri Bickley — a certified teacher in the Rock Steady Boxing program, as well as a medical social worker who does palliative and hospice care — is deeply invested in the care of her students. “Seeing improvement every day is something I live for,” Bickley said. “Sometimes they don’t even see it. But I see the progress every day. They (the students) are getting better and better with their agility and strength constantly.” Bickley has been boxing for some time, but her true passion has been helping people, and she has made a career out of it as a medical social worker. “I think this is a great way to help people and to also stay in shape, take care of your body,” she said. As for Sheila, her fight continues on. Some days are better than others, but her doctor has encouraged her to stay in the boxing class, and to keep fighting. As of now, she is down from more pills you can count on two hands to about two to three meds a day, which in any doctor’s book is a wild success. “There are still days where I get up and don’t want to do anything,” Powell said. “The apathy sets in. But the boxing helps.” As a retired schoolteacher, Powell was never an athlete, or so she says. But her boxing blood began years ago, when her grandfather Terry Keller was a boxer known in the Salt Lake City/Ogden area. According to records obtained by Sheila Powell, he even defeated Jack Dempsey at one point before Dempsey went on to create a name for himself. Boxing blood or not, Sheila has created a name for herself in her own right, and wants more than anything to help others, a sentiment reminiscent of her teaching days. She hopes to go on and become a certified teacher assistant in the Rock Steady Boxing program. “When I box, I don’t have Parkinson’s disease,” Powell said. “And that’s all that matters — for those classes, the disease is gone.” Relax Easy Buying or Selling a Home is Joel Fine • 435-901-2171 joel@FineProperty.com (www.justcalljoel.com) Some of the pets at Nuzzles & Co. looking for love These animals are available to be seen at the Nuzzles & Co. Adoption Center and Rescue Ranch. Our Adoption Center is open Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located in the Tanger Outlets in Kimball Junction. Our Rescue Ranch is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sunday. The Rescue Ranch is located at 6466 N. Highview Road in Peoa. Odin Panda Verde Vinnie Odin is a happy and sweet 7-month-old lab-pit bull mix. Odin was hit by a car and ended up needing to have one of his hind legs removed, but that doesn’t slow him down one bit. Odin is a silly guy who loves to go for walks and play. Panda is a sweet but shy 9-month-old Chihuahua mix. He loves to be held and cuddled, and he needs a loving forever family who will make him feel safe and boost his confidence. He could possibly share a home with another small dog or a cat. Verde is a happy and playful 1-year-old Chihuahua mix. He’s got lots of energy and would be a great partner for someone who is active. Verde gets along well with small dogs and could possibly live with a cat. This silly boy is very smart and eager to please. Vinnie is a loving 2-year-old cattle dog mix who loves spending time with people and exploring the great outdoors. He could share a home with another dog with proper introduction, but he would do best in a home with no cats. Vinnie a smart and loving boy. Ebenezer Baloo Siri Batman Ebenezer is a friendly 6-year-old orange-tabby domestic shorthair. He is a gentle guy who loves to spend his days watching birds from a comfy window seat or snoozing on the couch. He gets along well with other cats. Ebenezer is just a sweet and easygoing cat. Baloo is a very handsome 8-yearold, long-haired Siamese mix. He is lovable, unique and sociable with people and other animals. He’s got a big personality and a bigger heart. Baloo would be a wonderful companion for anyone who loves to snuggle and relax. Siri is not the voice assistant on your smart phone, but she is a friend who will always be there. She’s a 2-year-old brown-tabby domestic longhair. This gentle soul hopes there is a place for her to call home where she can feel safe, loved and relaxed. Batman is an affectionate 4-yearold domestic shorthair with a soft black and white coat. He loves attention from people and would be a great lap cat. He gets along well with other cats, and his mild temperament makes him a hit with everyone he meets. Wanted: Volunteers These not-for-profit organizations are looking for volunteers. If you would like to include your group in this section, please email information to copyeditor@parkrecord.com. Please limit your entry to no more than 75 words. PCCAPS Mentors PCCAPS, the successful business and education collaboration for Park City High School juniors and seniors, is seeking mentors with skills in software and web development, business, digital design and engineering for highly motivated students completing real projects for local and international businesses such as RAMP, Rockwell-Collins, Adobe and Skull Candy. Help develop students for success in the 21st century global workforce. Participate once, weekly, or monthly. Visit parkcitycaps.com or contact lyanderson@pcschools.us, or call 435-659-4847. PCSD Good Neighbors Program Park City School District needs volunteers to help adult English-language learners or adults with limited literacy skills and confidence to live and thrive in our community. Tutor conversational English, grammar, reading and/or writing. Morning, afternoon, evening and weekend sessions are available and the time commitment is approximately three to four hours per week. For information, contact Judy Tukuafu at 435-615-0216 or jtukuafu@pcschools.us. Peace House Peace House is a charitable organization dedicated to ending family violence and abuse through education, outreach, support services and shelter. Peace House is currently looking for volunteers 16 and older to assist in many different ways with an emphasis on childcare volunteers. There is a wide variety of options workable with individual schedules. For information, contact Kate Stone, volunteer coordinator, at volunteerspeacehouse@gmail.com or 435-658-4739, ext. 103. People’s Health Clinic The People’s Health Clinic is looking for medical professionals and interpreters. If you are a doctor, nurse, PA, MA, phlebotomist, even a retired medical provider, or can translate Spanish, your skills and compassion can be put to immediate use. Volunteers are needed to help staff on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at anytime from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. As much or little time as you can give — weekly, monthly, or sporadically — is appreciated. For information, contact Meaghan Miller at meg@phcpc.org or call her at 435-3331849. The clinic provides medical care to the uninsured of Summit and Wasatch counties. Recycle Utah Recycle Utah, the primary recycling hub in Summit County for the last 25 years, is seeking volunteers. Get fresh air, burn calories and make your community cleaner and greener. Help is needed in the front office, the warehouse and with assisting with daily operations. Recycle Utah also relies on volunteers at special events such as its Harvest Fest and collection events. For information, contact Molly Brooks at outreach@recycleutah.org or 435-649-9698. Summit Land Conservancy Summit Land Conservancy is an environmental nonprofit working to permanently protect the beloved open spaces in Summit County. You can see the results of the group’s work when you walk your dog in Round Valley, enjoy the Mid Mountain Trail or fly fish on the Weber River. Volunteers are needed to assist with biweekly recycling and join the Adopt an Easement program. To stay in the loop with other upcoming volunteer opportunities, sign up for the newsletter at wesaveland.org/get-involved/stay-informed. For information on current opportunities, contact caitlyn@wesaveland.org. Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District Basin Recreation is looking for volunteers with a passion for play to be Park Ambassadors. Park Ambassadors patrol the parks, interact with park users, report maintenance needs, assist with tournaments, promote park safety and encourage an overall positive use of public space. For details, visit www.basinrecreation.org or contact Angie Greenburg at 435-640-8476 or agreenburg@basinrecreation.org. Wasatch Womenade Wasatch Womenade is a nonprofit providing financial assistance to local women and children in need. Volunteers are needed to host small social gatherings as mini fundraisers for victims of domestic violence. The group’s mission is to provide aid for items outside the scope of what beneficiaries could otherwise provide. Beneficiaries include Peace House, the Children’s Justice Center and the Summit County Victim’s Assistant Program. Visit wasatchwomenade.org for details. To host an event, contact Jane Morrison at 435-645-8764 or wasatchwomenade@gmail.com. For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit parkrecord.com/volunteers. Submit event recaps, photos and news about local clubs/groups/ nonprofits to arts@ parkrecord.com You set the scene |