A Note From the Author

Dear Readers,

When I was diagnosed with MS in 1979, I had no idea what was ahead for me. At the time of my diagnosis, I was only 32 years old and my husband Dave and I had been married only 10 years. Our daughter Jamie was five; our son Andy was three. I had a career I loved, working part-time as a teacher of the deaf. My life as I knew it then would never be the same. My journey of change and self-discovery, which started in 1979, continues to this day. This collection of stories shows how I found a new path for myself. I discovered how to bloom where I was planted.

I never considered myself a writer. In fact, prior to my illness, I never wrote anything more creative than "Please excuse Jamie for being absent on Monday. She had a sore throat." Writing became a way for me to express my feelings, both positive and negative. I found it a therapeutic way to get out some of the emotions that were bottled up inside—not only feelings of frustration and anger but those of hope and joy as well.

I hope as you read Blooming Where You're Planted: Stories from the Heart you'll gain an insight into what it's like to live in a world of chronic illness and disability. I hope you'll understand how difficult it is to cope with a disease over which you have no control. But most of all I hope this book encourages and inspires you to lead your life to its fullest, making new friends and having new adventures. You, too, can be happy again!

Your friend,