Slowing Down to Enjoy Life
The trains started coming through Winslow, Arizona, in the 1920s, connecting people to the beautiful, barren wilderness of the desert. That connection and dichotomy — cities and desert, English and Spanish — are among the reasons why Kent and his wife, Nancy, say they love Arizona as much now as they did when they first moved to Tucson.
“We love the fusion of the culture that’s here,” Kent said. “It’s just a remarkable place.”
When Kent retired at age 53, he was excited to travel around the region with Nancy, taking photos of the Sonoran Desert and scuba diving when they traveled out of state. The pair have taken more than 1,500 dives, spending time together and appreciating the unique underwater pace.
“Nancy wanted me to slow down, smell the roses, and see the beauty of it,” he said. “I just learned to appreciate the water.”
In 2017, Kent’s drooping eyelid was the first sign something wasn’t right. In his 60s and in good health, Kent sought the opinion of his ophthalmologist. After ruling out other conditions, his doctor conducted bloodwork and determined Kent was living with myasthenia gravis (MG). Myasthenia gravis, a chronic, autoimmune, neuromuscular disease causes weakness in the skeletal muscles. Kent said he’s grateful for his wife’s decades of healthcare industry experience.
“She dug and looked for whatever information she could find,” Kent said. “Myasthenia gravis is very rare.”
For more than five years, the pair found affordable treatment that kept Kent’s symptoms at bay. But in 2023, while traveling in Oregon, Kent began experiencing double vision and couldn’t drive. His doctor recommended switching him to a new, more effective treatment. Retired and on Medicare, Kent and Nancy were unsure how they’d afford $70,000-a-week infusions.
“The treatment takes away basically 100% of my symptoms,” he said. “It’s remarkable, but it’s very expensive.”
When they found The Assistance Fund’s (TAF’s) Myasthenia Gravis Financial Assistance Program, they applied right away. The program provides financial assistance for out-of-pocket costs for all prescribed FDA-approved treatment for MG, including prescription drug copays, health insurance premiums, and incidental medical expenses. When Kent saw he’d been approved for assistance, he was elated.
“My wife was looking after me,” Kent said. “You have to persevere.”
In 2024, Kent’s photograph of trains in the Arizona desert at wintertime was selected as a winner of TAF’s patient art contest.
“Art has allowed me to redirect my efforts and give me pleasure,” he said. “It can play a big role in keeping you motivated.”
No longer able to scuba dive, art and his family keep Kent going, visiting new places and photographing the world around him. Kent and Nancy are headed back to Mexico soon to visit Oaxaca, a special place for them. The city is a hub for arts and crafts with plenty of locations to take more photography.
“Every day is a gift,” Kent said.
