At only 29, Arun Veerapan uses a walking aid and struggles to make a cup of tea. He lives with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a painful and disabling inflammatory musculoskeletal condition that causes his spine to fuse and severely impacts mobility. His health deteriorated more when treatment for AS caused a brain injury and a rare neurological condition that mimics dementia, affecting his memory, cognition and ability to process everyday tasks. Simple things like which bus to catch, how to turn on the tv or get dressed are a big challenge.
Arun used to have an active and independent life, but now too much noise and people around him are overwhelming. His world has become much smaller and isolated, and he relies on the constant support of his partner and carer, Isabel, who says he wouldn’t be able to manage if she wasn’t there. “I worry about him not eating and drinking or getting lost and confused. When he goes out in public, people might not understand his difficulties, and I worry how they might respond to him or misunderstand who he is.”
In hospital, Arun found relief outside in the gardens. His neurologist understood the therapeutic value of nature which paved the way for his recovery. But once home, Arun didn’t leave the house for a long time, it was too confusing and too much. Eventually he found his way back into the world through the Life Changers programme at Thrive. Feeling nervous, he attended his first gardening session with Isabel and surrounded by compassion, he quickly settled in. “Each week being in a community that was safe and supportive, really helped my wellbeing. Being in Thrive’s gardens is so calming and peaceful, I can truly relax and be myself.”
Arun struggles to process tasks and do things in the right order; something as simple as making a cup of tea is muddling. To enable him to overcome his difficulties, the practitioners tailored activities to his needs and goals, using raised beds and adapted equipment. “When you struggle with really basic things, it feels like the whole world is impossible. But planting something and seeing it grow gives you a sense of accomplishment and pride that you can take with you. It gives you the confidence to give other things a go.”
Our gardens became a sanctuary for Arun. Weekly sessions helped him reconnect with others and gave him a sense of purpose. Being part of a community where he didn’t have to explain himself was deeply comforting. “People just understood,” he says. “Being together in this space helped me feel much better.”
Isabel saw Arun’s mood lift.
He came out brighter and more himself. I think it’s been the biggest impact on his health journey in terms of his wellbeing and joy.
Arun feared his health would prevent him from participating in programmes like Life Changers, but now he encourages others to try it.
When you’ve been ill for such a long time, it’s hard to figure out a way forward. Thrive offers that path and helped me to rebuild all the skills I needed to succeed and take on the world again.
Gardening has helped to restore Arun and Isabel’s life. They enjoy visiting gardens using nature to manage Arun’s symptoms. When his condition flares up, time in the garden offers an immediate remedy.
Enjoy a free month of our Cultivating Wellbeing app this January. Reconnect with nature and nurture yourself.
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