Margaret “Meg” Moore can’t walk, stand or tend to activities of daily living on her own and she relies on an assistive device for communication.
Yet, the 26-year-old from Middlebury has already accomplished more than many people will in a lifetime – and she keeps adding to the list.
“My positive attitude can definitely be attributed to my parents,” Moore wrote in an email. “My mother and my late father approached my life with a disability with a very positive outlook right from the beginning.”
Her latest mission brings positive artwork and poems to hospital walls, in a project she’s named: “Positivity for Patients: Project Yes You Can.”
She came up with the idea after a brief hospital stay in 2021 for aspiration pneumonia, followed by months of outpatient rehabilitation at Gaylord Specialty Health Care, where the first installation of positive artwork is on display.
“I wanted to do something to help those patients,” who had long stays, Moore wrote. “And I thought that decorating the hospital corridors with art and writing that depicts themes of positivity would be a good way to brighten their days.”
Moore, a poet, called upon Black Rock Art Guild, a group she belongs to contribute positive artwork and poems.
Guild member Janet Krauss, who donated nine poems on positive topics, said Moore’s accomplishments are “remarkable.”
“I get very emotional when I think about Meg and all she does,” Krauss said. “I think it’s extraordinary this young woman thought of the project and put it into action….She’s a role model for all these patients at Gaylord ad other facilities.”
Katie Butler, a certified therapeutic recreation specialist at Gaylord, said art is powerful for patients.
“Art brings people together and allows them to interpret a variety of different emotions,” Butler said.
“Patients can enjoy reminiscing on the artwork as well as socializing with other peers while observing. Positive messages light up patients’ days, even with the simplest of words. Positive messages spread positive vibes, allowing patients to feel good and smile.”
Moore was born with cerebral palsy because of a prolapsed umbilical cord at birth that left her without oxygen for five minutes.
While that resulted in extreme physical impairments, Moore’s cognitive abilities were intact and she was educated in the mainstream.
Moore said she was taught by her parents growing up that she could, “achieve all my ambitions.”
Some of her achievements include: In summer 2022 she graduated from Fairfield University’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program, maintaining straight As throughout; she was the 2022 College of Arts & Sciences recipient of the Fairfield University Graduate Student Service Award; in 2020 she graduated magna cum laude from Fairfield University, earning a bachelor’s degree in English/creative writing with a minor in psychology.
Also, in 2019, she received the Fairfield University Mariann S. Regan Award for Outstanding Achievement in English and the creative non-fiction Essay Award; she delivers presentations at graduate level international & national writing conferences; she is Gold Award Girl Scout; her debut memoir, “Bold, Brave, and Breathless,” will be released October 2.
Meanwhile, she has a job too. Moore is a book editor and marketing coordinator at an independent book publisher, Woodhall Press. She’s also an ambassador for PRC-Saltillo, the manufacturer of her communication device that allows her to type using eye gazes.
Margaret has also been accepted to be on Gaylord Sports Association’s ParaTriathlon team, using a walker to run.
“She keeps very busy,” said her mom, Anne Moore.
Margaret Moore’s dad died of a rare form of stomach cancer at 44 just before her second birthday, but he faced his daughter’s situation head on and found resources to help.
“Before he died, my father was discussing my disability and said to a friend, ‘Whatever the obstacle, we will overcome it,”‘ Margaret Moore wrote.
As for mom, Margaret Moore said, “When I would see my friends playing sports, doing Girl Scouts, going ice-skating, zip-lining, you name it, my mom was always there saying, ‘Let’s figure out what we need to do to get you to do those activities right along with them.’
Anne Moore said that aside from parental influence, determination runs in the family.
“We come from a long line of strong, persevering women,” she said.
Margaret Moore said it took her years to realize that what her family taught her about positivity and overcoming obstacles has not been a common approach in the larger disability community and the general public.
“I really wanted to change that, and a lot of what I see even today in 2023 is that many people of all abilities have this belief that having a disability means that you are incapable and having a disability is seen as an undesirable quality,” she wrote. “Through sharing my story and through initiatives… I strive to teach people about the potential and the capabilities that we all have, whether we are able-bodied or disabled.”
Her soon to be released memoir is about her childhood experience growing up with cerebral palsy and losing her father, whom she remembers.
The printing costs for the first installation of the “Positivity for Patients: Project Yes You Can,” were made possible through crowdfunding, Margaret Moore said.
She and the Black Rock Art Guild, or BRAG, will continue to donate exhibits and the hope is the pieces will eventually be given to patients to take home.
BRAG treasurer Sheila Weaver said the group found Meg’s art program for hospitals, “very exciting,” and they were happy to see it’s debut at Gaylord where so many happened to have a personal connection.
“She does it with the love, the care and the spirit of giving to others,” Weaver said. “She’s an amazing poet.”
Margaret chose Gaylord for the debut exhibit because, “they have patients at all stages of recovery…and I know how important it is to stay motivated during the recovery process.”
