In early June of this year I wrote an article for Brain & Life, www.Brain&Life.org (I have mentioned this magazine previously). In the back of the magazine is an area titled, Speak Up, where people write about their experiences living with a neurological disorder. This is what I wrote the article for. I wanted to share my experience of gardening with MS and show the specific tools I use that make it possible for me to continue gardening. At the end of June I received an e-mail from an Mary, an editor, stating that they would like to use it for the August/September issue, I was thrilled to say the least!
I had named the article, Gardening with MS. I had attached three pictures; one of the golf cart, which enables me to garden, one with my kneeler, which if I didn’t have I absolutely could not garden, and lastly a picture of my garden. Mary said she would go over it, edit, and send it back. I received the draft and it didn’t have any pictures and they had taken a story from my blog, and added to it. I wrote back stating that I felt the pictures were important, just the golf cart and kneeler, and should really be included to let people know how having anyone of these could help someone else.
Friday I received the August/September issue in the mail. I couldn’t wait to see my article, (essay). They changed the title from Gardening with MS to “Oasis from MS” and they did not use any of the pictures. As far as referencing the tools I need, there was a mention that I use “knee pads.” This is extremely disappointing. Besides the fact that I have MS, I am 64 years old and most ladies and men of this age will use the kneeler, as opposed to knee pads. There would be no way for me to get down on my knees and up again using only knee pads. I feel this is important enough to be included. If you read the article, (essay) you’ll see there is plenty of room on the page for them to have inserted the pictures. They used an generic illustration instead. I am putting the two pictures here so that if anyone reads this they’ll be able to see these tools that I cannot garden without.
I have included an extra picture of my walker loaded up with everything I need for the beds that are around my driveway
Hi Barbara, I really enjoyed your article about gardening with MS. I used to love gardening so very much. I had 13 acres and a Farm All 140, (International Harvester). Not anymore. Please see Brain and Life April/May page 38. Gave everything away. Would go to Kingdom Hall, people come running. One year gave away a pickup of watermelons. MS and SS have very similar symptoms. So glad that you can still garden.
Hi Steve, I’ glad that you enjoyed the article. Did you also see my blog post about the article? If not, please read. I feel that they left out a very important part, the tools I use so that
I can continue to garden. I do understand how hard it must be for you to give up gardening, or in your case, farming, (much more work involved). I do hope you are able to go outside and
appreciate the benefits that only nature can provide. Boy would I love to have tried your watermelons, my favorite!