THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 12, 1996 TAG: 9601100204
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: L07 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEAN GEDDES
CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
When Kendra Mills, Kempsville High School senior, learned she was one of several Virginia Beach cheerleaders chosen to appear at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii at the end of January, it was a dream come true.
That dream nearly came to an end four years ago, threatening her hopes of ever becoming an all-star athlete, when she collapsed at an athletic event and was rushed to the hospital where she was diagnosed as having serious asthma.
For Kendra, who since the age of 6 had been a gymnast, dancer, swimmer, and more recently has become a cheerleader, track runner and swim team member, the news was shattering. ``I didn't know how to deal with it,'' she recalled recently as she sat in the living room of her Kempsville home.
``I was so used to going and coming as I chose and now to find out I had a serious health problem, I felt it was a great burden on my life.''
She remembers becoming depressed as her hospital stays and school absences grew more frequent and longer.
``At the hospital I would have to be placed on intravenous procedures and given breathing exercises throughout the day. Then, at home I would have to go to the doctor two or three times a week.''
She credits two doctors at the Providence Road Family Practice, Dr. Garrett Kelly and Dr. Meredith Rose, as well as the nurses at the center, for helping her get back on her feet.
``They recommended I use a nebulizer which I carry with me constantly and use it whenever necessary and especially before I start cheerleading at athletic events.''
The nebulizer, which is a light, compact machine resembling a radio, is a life saver for Kendra who uses it three or four times a day at 10-minute intervals whenever she has a flare-up of her illness or before athletic events. ``It's an inhaler that gets quickly into my lungs,'' she explained.
She also credits her comeback to her faith, her family - her parents are Shirleen and Kenny Mills - and a teacher at her school who had, herself, been faced with a serious health problem and had overcome it.
Kendra said, ``Her courage was phenomenal and she helped me rethink my life by explaining that life is a wonderful thing and not to be wasted. She suggested I read Emerson's Self Reliance, which I did, and his words, `do not seek yourself outside yourself' I will always remember. I realized I was seeking to find a cure outside when I really needed to do some inner seeking as well. Her teaching also showed me that there is nothing you cannot conquer if you truly believe you can.''
Today, Kendra is captain of the school's varsity cheerleading squad, and in June will graduate from the Gayle Pratt School of Dance where she has studied toe, jazz and tap.
She also designs cheers and dance routines, and has an active social life along with her athletic activities.
She credits her love for sports as outweighing her illness as she continues to lead a controlled, healthy life.
Currently Kendra is anticipating the Hawaiian event. Two other Kempsville cheerleaders, Kelly Walsh and Matt Schultz, were also selected to go to the Pro Bowl.
She's also excited about having been chosen as one of the All Americans by the Eastern Cheering Association. She will also now be able to try out to be an Eastern Cheering Association instructor and teach at children's cheering camps, something she would like to pursue after high school.
She is also applying to Old Dominion, Virginia Tech and George Mason universities and eventually hopes to be a physical therapist or go into law enforcement.
Although the honor of being selected to go to Hawaii is great, she realizes there is also expense involved, around $3,000 to cover the trip.
Again, determined to not let this stop her, Kendra has written to various businesses asking for help and so far has received donations from several. She hopes to leave Virginia Beach for Hawaii on Jan. 27. MEMO: In you are interested in helping with the cost, send contributions to
Kendra Mills, 733 Monmouth Lane, Virginia Beach, Va. 23464.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Kendra Mills credits her parents and a Kempsville High teacher with
aiding her battle against asthma.
by CNB