John Reinhart

Olathe, Kansas

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in April 2017. Shortly following my diagnosis, I started attending Rock Steady Boxing classes and began a two-year clinical drug trial at the University of Kansas Medical Center the following year. To this day, I continue to seek out and engage in opportunities that allow me to have a positive influence on people with Parkinson’s and their families. The core members of my Rock Steady Boxing classes have become people I care deeply about, serving as a support group without identifying themselves in that way. We laugh, share information and experiences, and, from time to time, also share tears. My hope is to make my diagnosis meaningful. Owning a shirt that says, “I have Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s does not have me,” I am guided by this principle for living well with Parkinson’s. For me, living well means accepting responsibility for a rigorous regiment of exercise and movement, understanding the day-to-day effects of diet and medication on Parkinson’s and its symptoms, and remaining informed on medical advances.

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