Garden of Hope

I have been invited to participate in the Garden of hope (http://www.hsvbg.org/gardens/gardenofhope.htm), a section of Huntsville's Botanical Gardens sponsored by Intergraph Corp. (http://www.intergraphfoundation.org/ ) for cancer patients and survivors. It has been a real honor for me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share my story with others.

I talked with a lady from the Atlanta office last week about my experience, had a photograph made and met with a lady from the garden to select flowers and plan the site. I will be able to take some of my personal statuaries to display at the site. The garden plot will be shared by 2 other participants. Our biographical sketches will be displayed along with our picture. When our tenure is over in the spring, our plaques will be retired to a sanctuary area adjacent to the garden plot.

The biographical sketch follows:
"Annalie Maynard
Upon waking every morning, Annalie Maynard does something she, a 62-year-old grandmother, never did before she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor in March 2008 – she takes some time to sit quietly, pray, and reflect on her life. Annalie had experienced persistent headaches before she consulted her doctor, who then recommended a CT scan indicating the glioblastoma was present in the back center portion of her brain. In April, 2008, Annalie underwent surgery, which successfully removed much of the tumor, and two months later, began radiation therapy. Throughout her journey with cancer, Annalie has found solace in her faith in God and has re-evaluated how she spends her days.

Annalie currently takes maintenance medication to ensure the cancer does not grow, and also regularly meets with a brain cancer support group. She continues to receive good reports from her doctors, a blessing she attributes to her trust in God and also the flood of support and love she receives from her friends and family – husband Gordon, sons Todd and Brant, their very supportive wives, Brandy and Elesha, and grandchildren Dakota, Gavin, and Sarah Grace.
Annalie, very active in her church and community, maintains that the interruption to her routine has been her biggest struggle in her fight against cancer. While she looks forward to regaining her energy, Annalie chooses not to dwell on the negative aspects of her experience. "When I get melancholy, anxious or frustrated, I stop and count my blessings and that puts things in perspective."

Owing to her love of bird watching, Annalie has chosen to decorate her garden with some personal garden statuaries. A retired librarian and schoolteacher, Annalie is accustomed to teaching others. She hopes her cancer journey will help others see that God is faithful, especially during our hour of tribulation."



This experience has been a real honor for me, and I would like to give personal thanks all those who have made this possible, especially Theresa Harding, who works at Intergraph, is a cancer survivor herself, and also a previous participant in the Garden of Hope. She is my daughter-in-law, Brandy's, aunt. I am so thankful for the opportunity she has given me to share my experience with others.