Today, we’d like to introduce you to Kelli French. Kelli was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Donnella “Nel” Andraos.
Kelli, thank you so much for joining us today. We’d love for you to bring our readers up to speed – can you introduce yourself and share your story?
I grew up in Southern California where I met & married my husband Randy in 1990. Shortly after we married, he was relocated to New Jersey where we spent 9 years. We were then transferred to Illinois for 2 1/2 years & OH for 12 years. I decided to go back to school & change careers while living in NJ. This began my 9 year journey of becoming a veterinarian. While living in Ohio, Randy began to have some unusual changes shortly after taking early retirement at the age of 63. It started with severe night terrors, hallucinations & short-term memory loss. We soon discovered that these symptoms were classic signs of Lewy Body dementia. He also began to show signs of Parkinson’s disease, such as mild tremors & change in his gait. His disease progressed to the point that I was unable to work full-time and care for him so we relocated to Florida where I was able to work part-time & live near close friends for a better support system. With medication and exercise, Randy was able to have a fairly good quality of life for about 8 years. As his condition continued to decline more rapidly, I decided to move back home to California as it became clear that he would not survive much longer.
Let’s talk about your work and career – what else should we know?
I am a small animal veterinarian which was a second career for me. I did not attend college directly out of high school. I went to a travel school and worked for the airlines for a short time then ended up in finance for many years. I decided to go back to school in my late 20’s to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian. I have practiced in four different states over the last 20 years. I am extremely passionate about veterinary medicine and have been involved in many charitable organizations over the years. I worked with a non-profit organization in Ohio for many years providing free veterinary care for pets of the homeless and several animal shelters. I believe that every animal should have access to veterinary care. I currently practice at a wonderful clinic in Dana Point.
Donnella “Nel” Andraos and I AM Movement have been great to us and I know you’ve got a great relationship with them as well. Maybe you can tell our audience a bit about Donnella “Nel” Andraos and I AM Movement and your experience with them.
I met Donnella & Timorei about 3 years ago at I AM Movement where my husband Randy attended their Rock Steady boxing classes. Rock Steady boxing is a no-contact boxing program for people with Parkinson’s disease. Randy battled Parkinson’s & Lewy Body dementia for 12 years. Rock Steady boxing was an integral part in keeping him both physically & emotionally strong. The program focuses on balance, strength-building, fall prevention, improving fine motor skills, cognition, & speech. Donnella & Timorei’s expertise, dedication, compassion & patience are remarkable. The program provides individuals dealing with devastating, progressive conditions a safe place to be themselves without judgement. The camaraderie among the boxers is heartwarming.
Randy battled Parkinson’s & Lewy Body Dementia for 12 years. I was his sole caregiver while working full-time as a veterinarian. During that time, I relocated us to two different states trying to find some work/life balance, I did not have any family to assist with his care giving which was extremely difficult. I navigated both diseases and the daily challenges alone. I remained in survival mode for many years. On a positive note, Randy & I were probably closer the last ten years of our 32 years of marriage which I attribute to the dementia. Dementia patients lose their inhibitions and it certainly brought out a much more communicative, deeper side of my husband. Sadly, Randy lost his brave battle 2 years ago. Almost immediately after his passing I began volunteering at I AM Movement once weekly on my day off. I was so impressed with the program & grateful for the positive impact it had on Randy’s life that I became passionate about staying involved. I also started a monthly support group for caregivers of Parkinson’s & dementia patients that is held at the I AM Movement facility. I never attended a support group during our journey but feel it would have improved my quality of life immensely. My goal was to offer caregivers a support system that I did not have by providing a safe place to vent, share coping skills, and provide critical resources. I hope to utilize my experience to assist as many caregivers as possible in balancing their health & quality of life while providing care for their loved ones.
Contact Info:
- Email: Kellifsg@gmail.com
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