Publication date: Jul 03, 2022 • 12 min ago • 4 min read • Join the discussion Diane Sims, an ill Stratford woman who was not expected to live beyond the middle of last year, is raising money for her medication and other medical expenses from selling cards with her hand-drawn sketches as well as paintings. Recently certified as a wedding officiant, Sims also uses what time she has left to help bring joy to the lives of people who want to get married through her new business, Weddings on Wheels. Galen Simmons/The Beacon Herald/Postmedia Network

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When Diane Sims’ doctors told her last spring that she likely had only three months to live, the Stratford woman living with multiple sclerosis who has had multiple surgeries over her lifetime to remove cancerous tumors from her lower abdomen she had a choice to make.

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She could let her prognosis take away her spirit and positive outlook on life, or she could continue to do what she loves. As a journalist and writer, Sims’ greatest passion has always been storytelling, but thanks to a lifelong love of art and some encouragement and guidance from friend and renowned Manitoulin Island artist Ivan Wheale, Sims embraced a new creative outlet through of sketching and painting as a way to keep her mind off her health. “Before (getting my prognosis) in June 2020 … (Ivan) encouraged me to put brush to canvas,” Sims said. “He just saw so much creativity in me, he said I want you to do this.” At first, Sims said she resisted the idea, having been told by her 4th grade art teacher that she was terrible at art — a comment that stuck with her for life and prevented her from exploring the visual medium. But when an artist of Wheale’s reputation and talent suggests he pick up the brush, Sims says it’s advice worth heeding. About six months later, another friend sent Sims a copy of artist and author Betty Edwards’ book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, which she worked on over the course of seven months to teach herself how to sketch. “I knew I was sick that winter. My doctor couldn’t tell, but I knew,” Sims said. … I was a vegetarian since I had a bowel obstruction and ate whatever I thought was good for me. Finally, (late March 2021), they did a CT scan (scan) and the entire ascending transverse descending colon was full of fibers. That’s when they found out that one side of my bowel was stuck to the wall and that’s because… I’ve had eight abdominal surgeries for cancer. … I had hundreds of adhesions (resulting from those surgeries).

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“And then there’s multiple sclerosis. … MS has really weakened (my gut). So one side can’t really do anything because it’s stuck and the other side (is also) very weak now.” Sims was in and out of the hospital more than a dozen times last year and has nurses and support staff come to her home several times a week. While hospital trips and home care are covered by OHIP, he takes a number of medications prescribed by a world-renowned gastroenterologist in London that are not covered by insurance. “And because of my condition, my medical expenses for medical supplies are very high every month,” Sims said. With Wheale’s encouragement, Sims decided to turn six of her favorite sketches — which she draws from memory and photos she’s taken on trips to Manitoulin Island and elsewhere in the province — into greeting cards that she sells on commission through of several retail stores, including Turners of Little Current on Manitoulin Island, as well as Blowes Stationary and Office Supplies and Treasures in Stratford. “What I like about Manitoulin is the split-rail fences,” Sims said, referring to the images that appear in some of the sketches she printed on cards. “…I’ll take more pictures up there.” While the greeting cards bring in a little extra cash, Sims also offers to paint on commission as a way to further cover her medical expenses. Anyone interested in ordering a painting can contact Sims by either calling 226-921-4790 or emailing [email protected]

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And as if painting, sketching and continuing to work as a freelance journalist and writer isn’t enough, Sims also recently became certified as a wedding priest and just started her new business, Weddings on Wheels, not so much as a way to make some extra money, but as a way to inspire joy and gratitude. “Part of life with gratitude and joy. this is life-affirming,” Sims said. “I think being able to tag a couple is life-affirming. It’s been in my heart for a few years to take this course, so I took a leap of faith and now I have the certificate and official state license.” The name for her business, Sims explained, came about after a friend told her that no one would hire a wedding officiant in a wheelchair. Sims, however, saw it as a challenge to prove that people with disabilities can achieve anything they set their minds to. “So I called my business Weddings on Wheels as a joke,” Sims said. “My professional photo shows the angle of my wheelchair, but as you can see, (my wheelchair) rises to a normal height. … I’m ready to go (and) handed out business cards all over town. ” … It is part of affirming gratitude and joy and my business card says, “Inspiring with joy and gratitude”. “ For more information about Weddings on Wheels, call 226-921-4790, email [email protected] or visit dianesimsofficiant.com. [email protected]

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title: “Terminally Ill Stratford Woman Uses Art To Raise Money For Medical Expenses " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-21” author: “James Hernandez”

Publication date: Jul 03, 2022 • 25 mins ago • 4 mins read • Join the discussion Diane Simms, a terminally ill Stratford woman who doctors didn’t expect to live beyond the middle of last year, is raising money for her medication and other medical expenses by selling cards with hand-drawn sketches of her, as well as paintings. Recently certified as a wedding officiant, Sims also uses what time she has left to help bring joy to the lives of people who want to get married through her new business, Weddings on Wheels. Galen Simmons/The Beacon Herald/Postmedia Network

Content of the article

When Diane Sims’ doctors told her last spring that she likely had only three months to live, the Stratford woman living with multiple sclerosis who has had multiple surgeries over her lifetime to remove cancerous tumors from her lower abdomen she had a choice to make.

This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Content of the article

She could let her prognosis take away her spirit and positive outlook on life, or she could continue to do what she loves. As a journalist and writer, Sims’ greatest passion has always been storytelling, but thanks to a lifelong love of art and some encouragement and guidance from friend and renowned Manitoulin Island artist Ivan Wheale, Sims embraced a new creative outlet through of sketching and painting as a way to keep her mind off her health. “Before (getting my prognosis) in June 2020 … (Ivan) encouraged me to put brush to canvas,” Sims said. “He just saw so much creativity in me, he said I want you to do this.” At first, Sims said she resisted the idea, having been told by her 4th grade art teacher that she was terrible at art — a comment that stuck with her for life and prevented her from exploring the visual medium. But when an artist of Wheale’s reputation and talent suggests he pick up the brush, Sims says it’s advice worth heeding. About six months later, another friend sent Sims a copy of artist and author Betty Edwards’ book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, which she worked on over the course of seven months to teach herself how to sketch. “I knew I was sick that winter. My doctor couldn’t tell, but I knew,” Sims said. … I was a vegetarian since I had a bowel obstruction and ate whatever I thought was good for me. Finally, (late March 2021), they did a CT scan (scan) and the entire ascending transverse descending colon was full of fibers. That’s when they found out that one side of my bowel was stuck to the wall and that’s because… I’ve had eight abdominal surgeries for cancer. … I had hundreds of adhesions (resulting from those surgeries).

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“And then there’s multiple sclerosis. … MS has really weakened (my gut). So one side can’t really do anything because it’s stuck and the other side (is also) very weak now.” Sims was in and out of the hospital more than a dozen times last year and has nurses and support staff come to her home several times a week. While hospital trips and home care are covered by OHIP, he takes a number of medications prescribed by a world-renowned gastroenterologist in London that are not covered by insurance. “And because of my condition, my medical expenses for medical supplies are very high every month,” Sims said. With Wheale’s encouragement, Sims decided to turn six of her favorite sketches — which she draws from memory and photos she’s taken on trips to Manitoulin Island and elsewhere in the province — into greeting cards that she sells on commission through of several retail stores, including Turners of Little Current on Manitoulin Island, as well as Blowes Stationary and Office Supplies and Treasures in Stratford. “What I like about Manitoulin is the split-rail fences,” Sims said, referring to the images that appear in some of the sketches she printed on cards. “…I’ll take more pictures up there.” While the greeting cards bring in a little extra cash, Sims also offers to paint on commission as a way to further cover her medical expenses. Anyone interested in ordering a painting can contact Sims by either calling 226-921-4790 or emailing [email protected]

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And as if painting, sketching and continuing to work as a freelance journalist and writer isn’t enough, Sims also recently became certified as a wedding priest and just started her new business, Weddings on Wheels, not so much as a way to make some extra money, but as a way to inspire joy and gratitude. “Part of life with gratitude and joy. this is life-affirming,” Sims said. “I think being able to tag a couple is life-affirming. It’s been in my heart for a few years to take this course, so I took a leap of faith and now I have the certificate and official state license.” The name for her business, Sims explained, came about after a friend told her that no one would hire a wedding officiant in a wheelchair. Sims, however, saw it as a challenge to prove that people with disabilities can achieve anything they set their minds to. “So I called my business Weddings on Wheels as a joke,” Sims said. “My professional photo shows the angle of my wheelchair, but as you can see, (my wheelchair) rises to a normal height. … I’m ready to go (and) handed out business cards all over town. ” … It is part of affirming gratitude and joy and my business card says, “Inspiring with joy and gratitude”. “ For more information about Weddings on Wheels, call 226-921-4790, email [email protected] or visit dianesimsofficiant.com. [email protected]

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Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourages all readers to share their views on our articles.  Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site.  We ask that you keep your comments relevant and respectful.  We’ve enabled email notifications—you’ll now receive an email if you get a reply to your comment, there’s an update on a comment thread you’re following, or if someone follows the comments.  Visit the Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to customize your email settings.