Re: OT: Disabled Gardeners
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] OT: Disabled Gardeners
- From: z*
- Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 21:12:46 -0700
on 5/16/01 10:59 AM, William C. Smoot at billsmoot@msn.com wrote:
> A handicap, disability, or the effects of increased age shouldn't
> keep us from gardening. Where there's a will - there's a way, and I know
> that some of you in this group have found little "tricks" that you've learn
> through experience that allow you to keep gardening. I'm hoping you'll
> share them with the group. Doing so should make gardening easier for all
> concerned. If you are disabled, or handicapped, or have reached that senior
> status that has limited your gardening and know of some product or way that
> would make it easier for all of us to garden, please share it with me. I'd
> like to collect this data and write an article on it.
> I'll start first!
>
> Three years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This ultimately
> resulted in a radical mastectomy and chemo/radiation therapy. Some of the
> consequences of this is that my dominant gardening hand was affected. The
> removal of lymph nodes compromised the immune response to my hand and I now
> get a buildup of lymph fluid if I use overuse my hand - especially with
> digging. I also have the side effects of tirdness from the chemo/radiation
> and from my current medication. I have also lost the sweat glands under my
> armpit and have to be very careful of heat problems.
>
> One of the hardest things for me to do was to alter and adapt my
> gardening habits. In the past I would tackle a project with full force, but
> now I have to divide projects up into sections, allow opportunity for rest,
> then do another section. Perviously, I would "eat the elephant" in one large
> bite, but now I take smaller and more frequent bites! I have also found
> that the new ergonomically engineered tools lessen the fluid buildup in my
> hand. I also tend to garden in the cooler periods of the day, but will
> frequently overextend myself. While I should garden with gloves to lessen
> the chance of infection, I find this personally impossible to do and after
> gardening I diligently make sure that I wash my arm and hands with
> antibacterial soap and immediately treat any cuts or abrasions.
>
> I hope that this will be an interesting thread and look forward to your
> input. Hopefully, it will benefit us all!
>
>
> Warm regards,
>
> BillSmoot
I too have to restrict the time of working in the garden, and the bright
light of the sun is one strong factor in chasing me indoors. I lie down and
may return to the garden later, or may work againg in the coolness of the
evening . It is disappointing but better than nothing. lloyd Zurbrigg
Durham N.C.
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