The day I bonded with Jet I became forever a proponent of service dogs. After only weeks of living with Jet, my life changed dramatically for the better. My goal is now to educate the able and disabled about the benefits of Canine Assistants. Most recently, I spoke with the Chattanooga Chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation about my personal experiences living life with a service dog. My goal is to continue to reach out to others who wish to learn about these remarkable helpers.

 

My professional career has been a blend of the arts and sciences, beginning with study in the 1970s in fine arts, continuing that as a minor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. My artistic bent was supplemented by creative writing classes as well as art classes while pursuing a Bachelor of Health and Human Services, since I decided that a career in nursing offered more economic security than a career as an artist. After graduation I continued postgraduate studies in nursing at Fort Sanders, now Tennessee Weslyn School of Nursing.

 

I had worked seven years as a peri-operative holding room nurse at the now-defunct Baptist Hospital in Knoxville, when diagnosed in 2000 with Multiple Sclerosis. Three years later, a seizure disorder forced retirement from hospital nursing, but opened up the facinating world of virtual nursing for a medical call center at home. In May 2011 I completely retired from nursing due to health reasons.

 

During my years a a nurse I remained active in art, entering juried art competitions, including the Mayor's Art Gala Exposition, Knoxville Art Council Show, and Liz Beth and Company show. I participated in the Art in Public Places display sponsored by the Knoxville Arts Council. My work also has been shown in the Knoxville Dogwood Art's Festival and various expositions in galleries locally. I've also marketed a copyrighted series of local wildlife cards, rendered commissions for private individuals, and promoted a nationally well-recieved series of limited edition prints.