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Ben Kendrick

@kendrick_b3n

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Early Onset Parkinson’s warrior. Chronic pain survivor. Soccer fanatic. Privacy advocate. World champion funny face maker.

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This is the face I hide from the rest of the world because I don't want to make people uncomfortable due to my disease.

And because of grief, guilt, and shame over not being able to do the things I want to do or support my family the way I would like.

This is the post you get when I am so f**king tired of trying to make other people comfortable with my disease, and the anger out weighs the shame.

I think maybe we all need to be a little more uncomfortable, particularly our sick care system, with the fact that we have created a world in which the patient is expected on one hand to appear as ill as doctors think we should be to get treatment, while simultaneously appear okay to others so that they don't feel uncomfortable around us. #parkinsonsdisease #chronicillness #sofuckingoverit #chronicpainwarrior #chronicillnesswarrior by @kendrick_b3n

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a day ago

#parkinsonsdisease #chronicallyill #chronicillness #soccer #allgritnoquit by @kendrick_b3n

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2 days ago

About a year ago, this group, HPDL Rangers, took me in as a soccer fanatic giving it one last run before Parkinson’s forces me to hang up my boots. I was nervous to tell them about the disease, but they have always had my back. I get maybe 10-15 min on the field during games. The chance to be part of a team again has so much to me and my family. I’ll post more on this later, but i want people to know that when you learn the sport, you’re also learning a language that is universal. From NYC to DC to Prague, and now Hartford, you can always find a group. Even if you can’t communicate verbally, your play can provide the opportunity to build relationships with people from all over the world. #parkinsonsdisease #blessed #chronicillness #soccer by @kendrick_b3n

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9 days ago

Highs and lows in coordination with Parkinson’s Disease. Have to keep up coordination and reflexes. But when those meds wear off, there are a lot of F-bombs. People tend to see our on times. But there are a lot of off times when things aren’t so great. #parkinsonsdisease #chronicillness #soccer #invisibleillnessawareness #soccerlife by @kendrick_b3n

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13 days ago

One super frustrating thing about Parkinson’s is getting people to appreciate that one minute you can be active and steady. 10 minutes later, maybe not so much. And the fear of being judged or someone saying, “if you can do that, there’s no way you have a disease,” is real. But that’s the nature of the disease and the medications. #parkinsonsdisease #soccer #invisibleillnesswarrior #chronicillness #parkinsons by @kendrick_b3n

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13 days ago

So grateful to the @hospitalforspecialcare. They diagnosed my unusual presentation of Parkinson’s and helped me get my life back. I could not have done it without the support of the amazing team of neurologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and everyone else who keeps the HFSC humming. They helped me regain the most important tool for recovery: hope. I look forward to hitting 50. #parkinsonsdisease parkinsonsdisease #chronicillness #parkinsons #grateful by @kendrick_b3n

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19 days ago

#parkinsonsdisease #chronicillness #allgritnoquit #running #thermoregulating by @kendrick_b3n

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24 days ago

#parkinsonsdisease #allgritnoquit #chronicillness #invisibleillnesses #fatigue by @kendrick_b3n

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a month ago

Parkinson’s has many ups and downs. One hour, I can rely on muscle memory and kick a ball. An hour later, tremors could be so bad I can’t move. #parkinsonsdisease #chronicallyill #invisibleillness #chronicillness #soccerislife by @kendrick_b3n

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a month ago

If anyone has tips on how they manage PD symptoms in hot weather, let me know!!! #parkinsonsdisease #parkinsons #beattheheat #running #chronicillness by @kendrick_b3n

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3 months ago

How do you beat the heat? Suggestions on cooling vests appreciated. #parkinsonsdisease #chronicallyill #running #heat #coolingsolutions by @kendrick_b3n

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4 months ago

The only form of exercise I hate even more than swimming laps at 6:00 a.m. in the cold, is using a rower. Unfortunately, with Parkinson's exercise is a must. So I suck it up and do what has to be done. And I just try to have a little fun with it along the way. #parkinsonsdisease #parkinsons #fitness #fitnesslife #chronicallyill by @kendrick_b3n

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5 months ago