HEALING POWER
of Pickleball
There are countless stories of how pickleball has helped
the lives of many. Here are two poignant accounts that
demonstrate the healing power of the game. By Laura Gainor
IT’S OKAY!
A few years ago, Kristin Davis had never heard
of pickleball when her husband, Jon Harpman,
first played the sport at the Santa Fe Family Life
Center (SFFLC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Little did they know it would impact their lives
in remarkable ways.
In 2017, during their second year of marriage,
Jon, 54, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and
it quickly sidetracked his game as well as
the couple’s mutual love for staying active
as competitive athletes. They also shared a love
Kristin Davis and Jon Harpman
of running and travel,
but Alzheimer’s forced
them to pause.
“As the disease took
away Jon’s ability to
run, drive a car, do
simple math, and hold
a job, we dwelled on
the devastation of the
disease,” said Kristin,
recalling the early days
of the diagnosis. “Jon
started spending his days
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