Thank you for coming to my site. I hope you enjoy the art and maybe even find a piece you would like to own. Many of the originals I have hanging in my own home. In them I find peace, inspiration and encouragement as I make my way through the arduous journey to recover from paralysis.
I will overcome paralysis.
In April of 2000, while on a camping trip in the Chisos Mountains, I dove into the Rio Grande with a bar of soap to clean myself up a bit. I woke up in an ICU in Lubbock, Texas paralyzed from the neck down and on a ventilator. I had broken my neck and injured my spinal cord. Marty Butler, my childhood and close friend had kept me breathing and saved my life in the river. In the hospital, fighting pneumonia and a decubitus ulcer, some said I would never breathe on my own or even speak again. After roughly a month and a half I began to breathe on my own. I began to recover.
I was flown to TIRR (The Institue for Rehabilitation and Research) in Houston, Texas where I was in rehab for another 6 months. There I managed to fight my way off the vent and have the feeding tube removed. The unwavering love of my mother and father pushed me forward. I had amazing support from friends, family, co-workers and strangers. I also received an incredible call from GSD&M, the advertising agency where I work as a copywriter. They assured me not to worry about my job or a place to live. And they would help with the building of a small house next to my parents home. Many of our clients, including Kohler and Lennox, even donated their products and time to build the house. I continued to get healthier and was eventually released to go home.
In 2002 encouraged by my parents I began to paint using just my mouth. In 2004 I was awarded a student membership to the MFPA (Mouth and Foot Painting Artists) based in Lichtenstein. I am now studying oil painting with artist, Philip Wade.
I will paint myself out of this wheelchair.
I recently married the love of my life and we live just outside of Austin. I continue with physical therapy. I also continue to write for the agency and look forward to the day I can run around Town Lake again.
I will overcome paralysis. I will paint myself out of this wheelchair.