Artists Bio
Betty Calkins grew up and spent the first 18 years of
her life in the West Creek area of Tioga County in a
place called Jenksville, N.Y and
graduated from the Newark Valley Central School in Newark Valley in
1958 . She was the daughter of Harrison and Anita Thomas.
Betty had been a stay-at-home mom up until their
children were in their teens. She went back to school and, in 1975,
became an Accredited Pennsylvania Real Estate Broker. She totally
loved her work.
On January 29, 1979, while showing property, on a very
cold and icy morning, she slipped and tumbled 200 feet to the bottom
of an embankment breaking her back in several places. After several
months, the back healed but as she could not walk, the doctors sent
her to Temple University Hospital, in Philadelphia, PA. After an
extended amount of testing, it was found that she had fourth stage
Multiple Sclerosis. Her head still functioned but from the
shoulders down, she had no feeling or usage. She was not even able
to hold a pencil. She was told that she probably would never walk
again. Only once, after that diagnosis,
did the thought cross her mind to end it.
A couple of years passed and
then it happened, a day came when Betty
had visitors who brought their young children. To entertain them,
she had the mother get out some typing paper, watercolors and
brushes. After they left, in trying to clean up, Betty struggled
but after a few hours of trying, had accomplished what resembled a
painting. Upon coming home from work that evening, her husband
remarked, “If you can do that well, maybe some lessons would make it
easier for you”. He secured an instructor and after four lessons,
Betty was told to find another “hobby”. Well, like the doctors who
told Betty she would probably never live past her forties, let alone
walk, Betty didn’t believe this instructor either, and kept
persevering. A year later, she entered a juried show and took first
place. The ex-instructor came in second. It was God’s way of
giving her a new beginning, something to look and reach for.
Her husband John and Betty now live in Broome County, in the
Vestal area. She is walking, and for the most part, not using
assistance. As for not living past her 40’s, she is now 68. She is
first to admit that there are days with MS that make you feel like
giving up but as she says, “there’s always tomorrow for that”. She
is an accomplished Artist, with many awards, and has paintings
throughout the United States, in fact, she decided to keep a record
in recent years, and found that she has sold more than 152
paintings throughout the United States. Betty is living proof,
keep your faith and never let anyone deny you of your dreams.
