A Celebration of Life – Kate Board Remembered
by Joe Powers - Past Chapter President
Although we never met, having read Kate's story that follows, I feel as if I knew her pretty well. I can almost image Kate and Jim stopping by for a visit. We'd have a cup of tea together, and share our experience with Myasthenia – and talk about kids and grandchildren.
Kate was the kind of person you'd like to know – someone you could talk to – who wouldn't be afraid or embarrassed to tell you how she felt, or what she thought. She was pretty direct and told it straight up – just the truth. Jim said she was “tough as nails” and never gave up. She had to be. Diagnosed with Myasthenia in 1945, just after Jim returned from the war in the Pacific, and they were married, life suddenly had a new challenge. The Myasthenia became progressively worse – and eventually was complicated by another autoimmune disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis. The combination of both would put her in a wheelchair.
At one stage of her illness, she was cumulatively 11 months on a respirator. It was pretty serious – her sister, Barbara, had died of Myasthenia. From 1970 on, Kate was a semi-invalid, barely able to feed herself. But, Jim was always there for her – and she had a great desire to live – and to live fully. They had one son, James Earl Board, and three wonderful grandchildren. Being a gifted musician and artist, she found time to teach neighborhood children piano – and painted beautiful portraits for friends and family.
Realizing there were other Myasthenia patients who needed a helping hand, Kate and Jim founded the Virginia Chapter in 1978 that today serves over 400 patients and their families. In that respect, she was the first Virginia advocate for Myasthenia patients. What a difference her commitment to the Myasthenia community has made in all our lives! Deciding not to be a passive victim of disease, Kate determined to change her world – her world of Myasthenia – by helping others. In doing so she has changed all our lives for the better, and given us the opportunity in turn to serve others as well. Her example can give us courage when we are weak, can lift our spirits when depressed – and give us “grace” to accept the difficult.
We can follow Kate's example and bring about change in our own lives and in our fellow patients in simple ways – by sharing our experience, participating, giving, and yes, by being an advocate for autoimmune and Myasthenia research. And if you do, at some point in life you'll be able to look back and say, “Like Kate, I've tried. I did my best to change my world – with faith and grace.” Thanks Kate, we'll always remember you.
Faith and Grace
By Kate Board
The following article was written by Kate Board. Those who knew Kate knew her to be full of faith and grace. Her husband, Jim, has allowed us to reprint this article.
After more than 45 years of battling a neuromuscular disease, I still remember the shock, anger, and fear that I experienced when first being diagnosed, “Myasthenia Gravis (MG) – no cure.” This couldn't be. I had been the fastest basketball player, the one who skated rings around all others and danced a pretty good lindy! No, I'll see another doctor!
After each diagnosis was the same, my denial turned to anger. Why me? I was too young, too busy; I had responsibilities. I hurried home to my room and cried long and hard after each visit to a doctor. I'll just give up and lie in bed…maybe it'll go away. I felt hopeless. Jim and I had just gotten married, and our whole future together was going to be marred by MG.
It didn't take long to realize that feeling sorry for myself accomplished little. I was raised in a family with faith and grace - faith enough to accept what you had to and the strength to handle it as gracefully as possible. I began with faith to accept the disease, but grace – oh, grace, where art thou? How do you walk gracefully with legs that feel like concrete? Where is grace when your hands no longer play the piano notes you loved so dearly?
By planning my activities and managing my time more carefully, we have enjoyed great trips, many good friends, and lived a happy life despite giving up so many cherished activities and spending many months hospitalized, eleven months on a respirator!
I still dream of standing straight as an arrow, being as slim as “Twiggy”, walking as graceful as a deer, and accomplishing all I planned for a day. Meanwhile, I'll sit as graceful as a wheelchair permits, and try to smile when people in department stores stare.
I have my faith, and some days I like to think I handle things with...Grace.
