Its Never Too Late or Too Hard to Continue By Ashley Nicole

Treasures are sometimes found in the People who have sometimes the biggest complain. Or, they could be those with the The unexpected was uncovered while pearls of life for herself.

unlikeliest of places. obstacles in their life are those expected to greatest stories to tell of triumph and love. talking to someone who has discovered

Dr. Deborah Elaine Harris, 48, is a nurse practitioner working in family medicine, but started off in a much different field battling personal circumstances along the journey. Her love, faith, and career path have all been through weary times, yet her tenacity and upbringing has held her together. Harris agreed to meet a coffeehouse near her home after a full workday. She wore a knee-length tweed skirt, black leather boots and simple gold jewelry all under her white coat. Her conservativeness is evident in her appearance alone but furthered through her soft voice and controlled stroll. I am very reserved, I value life, I value people. Im very serious about work, very serious about the spiritual and I am private, said Harris. She is a military child, both mother and father were in the Army. This provided Harris and her eight siblings with structure and discipline in life and school. Her parents limited their engagement in trivial fun like sleepovers and going to parties and put the focus on education. Her life was interrupted when her father left due to infidelity. Although, this was a rough moment, her father and she remained extremely close. Harris mother did remarry, which gave Harris two great dads. Growing up, there was no chance of dating. Her first boyfriend was at the age of 21. He was a little older and her boss while working at Captain Ds. This 10-year courtship ended in physical abuse and a brief marriage of a week. She went back to live with her mother after the cruise ship returned from the honeymoon. During this time she had a son, Jamaal Suggs, at the age of 24. After her brief marriage, Harris began a relationship hiatus for 12 years. Harris did remarry in 2010, to an officer Ronald Harris. They live in Southaven, Miss. She focused on her career again. She had a business degree and had already achieved a teaching degree. But after teaching for seven years, she realized she hated working with children, and went back to school. It was during this time she tackled nursing school. After an associates degree in nursing, she discovered she liked it. So, came the bachelors degree, the masters degree, and later the doctorate. Harris being a nurse is a manifestation of her nature in wanting to help people. Harris determination to move forward after every obstacle has made her strong and resilient. These are attributes she strives to bring out in others, such as her son who was diagnosed with sickle cell and leukemia, only one of 17 people in the country with this combination of diseases. Suggs was recently told he would not reach his 25th birthday.

Harris son was diagnosed at age 2. His days being numbered is not new to Suggs or Harris. Now, when told of life expectancies, they take it and pray. Suggs even spends time encouraging others in the hospital. He is not heard complaining or whimpering about the circumstances of which he has no control. He has embodied the attitude of his mother, to deal with situations and find solutions. I hate excuses. Anybody trying to better themselves, their health, I dont mind helping those people. I do not have respect for those not willing to help themselves, said Harris. Her son, as personally witnessed, takes the pain and heartache of the illness like a solider. Although young, she quotes her son on keeping her focused in tough times, reminding her that he is evidence of a family legacy continuing. My son will tell me, Keep the main thing the main thing, or Thats so small. For Harris the main thing is clearLive.