New Mexico Dad With Parkinson’s Is Giving Away Garden Angels

A local man who has Parkinson's has been making garden angels for the last year and giving them away to anyone who wants one.

The family of Sal Baquera is encouraging anyone in El Paso and surrounding areas to stop by to pick up a garden angel made by their father, who is currently suffering from Parkinson's and the early stages of dementia.

For the last year and a half, Mr. Baquera has been making garden angels that his family says help keep him focused and occupied as the debilitating disease continues to ravage his body and mind.

Parkinson's is a terrible brain disorder characterized by stiffness of the limbs, shaking, difficulty walking, balance, and coordination. Parkinson's symptoms usually begin to worsen over time gradually and can become much more problematic when dementia begins to set in. 

In a recent post shared on Facebook, one of Mr. Baquera's daughters (Michelle Bocanegra)  posted that her father has been dealing with Parkinson's for the last three years.

She writes that while her father is not the same man that she remembers from her youth, he's been creating garden angels that help "feed his mind and spirit."

Bocanegra says that while her father's creations are not for everyone, it means the world to him when people stop by to pick one up.

The family is not interested in money as the garden angels are not for sale; anyone interested in one can stop by Monday through Friday anytime from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. to select their favorite.

While there is no charge, all that Mr. Baquera and his family asks is that folks promise to place the garden angels in their garden or pass it on to someone who would appreciate its unique beauty and deep spiritual meaning. 

To pick up one of Mr. Baquera's garden angels, visit 173 Pinehurst Dr., Santa Teresa, NM 88008.