A young girl and her Nana hold a special bond that blooms in the surroundings of Nana's magical garden.
Then one day, the girl finds many weeds in the garden. She soon discovers that her beloved Nana has Alzheimer's Disease; an illness that affects an adult brain with tangles that get in the way of thoughts, kind of like how weeds get in the way of flowers. As time passes, the weeds grow thicker and her Nana declines, but the girl accepts the difficult changes with love, and learns to take-over as the magical garden's caregiver.
Extending from the experience of caring for her mother, artist Kathryn Harrison has created this poignant story with rich illustrations to candidly explore dementia diseases, while demonstrating the power of love. It is a journey that will cultivate understanding and touch your heart.
After the story, a Question and Answer section about Alzheimer's Disease and other dementia is included.
$1 from the purchase of this book will be donated to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. The Alzheimer Society is Canada's leading health charity for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Thank-you for making a difference!
Author Biography:
Kathryn Harrison holds an eclectic blend of science, marketing and art skills. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/ Psychology from Queen's University, an MBA in Marketing from McMaster University, worked for over a decade as a Communications professional and then went on to earn a Fine Art Diploma from the Toronto School of Art. Stirred by her personal experience with her mother's dementia, Kathryn wrote and illustrated this, her first picture book, Weeds in Nana's Garden. It is designed to support families and spread awareness of Alzheimer's Disease and other dementia, in honor of her mom, Bonnie Harrison. In creating this book, Kathryn has been able to layer all her different abilities together. Her understanding of brain disease stems from her education in science. Real world experience in marketing and advertising has helped her to be a compelling storyteller. And, finally her art training is apparent in her rich, mixed media illustrations that take in the reader and hold them. Kathryn creates from Cobourg, Ontario, Canada, a small town just outside of Toronto, where she is continuously inspired by her kids, her cats and her colorful natural surroundings. Kathryn Harrison holds an eclectic blend of science, marketing and art skills. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/ Psychology from Queen's University, an MBA in Marketing from McMaster University, worked for over a decade as a Communications professional and then went on to earn a Fine Art Diploma from the Toronto School of Art. Stirred by her personal experience with her mother's dementia, Kathryn wrote and illustrated this, her first picture book, Weeds in Nana's Garden. It is designed to support families and spread awareness of Alzheimer's Disease and other dementia, in honor of her mom, Bonnie Harrison. In creating this book, Kathryn has been able to layer all her different abilities together. Her understanding of brain disease stems from her education in science. Real world experience in marketing and advertising has helped her to be a compelling storyteller. And, finally her art training is apparent in her rich, mixed media illustrations that take in the reader and hold them. Kathryn creates from Cobourg, Ontario, Canada, a small town just outside of Toronto, where she is continuously inspired by her kids, her cats and her colorful natural surroundings.
