Richard returned with a van full of wood. We decided to plane it down using a machine planner, and to rough it up, using a wire brush attachment, for the disk grinder.
For this project, I kept all the Dates…
I then mixed up a bottle of milk and eggs, and smothered all four sides of the wood…
While I was in Ipswich Hospital suffering a severe Stroke, about a week after I had it, I felt my time on this planet was all over. My right arm, which I did all of my previous work with, was disabled, and I could not stand without support. I cried over it, many of times.
Another week went by, and all my friends and tutors came to see me. It was an amazing day, to say the least. I could not speak, but, they were all talking to me, and that keep me going on. Towards the end of the week, a miracle! I spoke! reciting the alphabet, although it wasn’t correct…
A B C D E F G, H L O N M O L P, Q R S, T U V, W X, Y Z
It was a start!
It was the beginning of the third week now, and I felt really low. One day said to my parents, ‘I don’t want to live anymore‘. My right arm and hand, that I done all my previous Artwork with, was gone. I did not know how I was going to live anymore, without it. To top that off, one of the scans to see what could of caused the Stroke, detected a tumour the size of a small orange, in my lower oesophagus.
In the same week, to my surprise, my arm had movement! I could swing my arm, back and forth! I could not move my hand though.
One day, I decided to pick up a pencil.
This is what I drew…
Which turned into this…
I knew right then, I have a purpose in life. I am going to finish off what I started. I am going back to University, and finish my degree in Fine Art.
After I got out of hospital, I realised, if I did not have my Stroke, I would of never of found my tumour. This is what my work is all about.
What I had planned to make…
So, I got in touch with Richard Berry, a Carpenter (who I worked with, about nine years ago), and we drew out a rough idea of what I am after…
Photo taken 24th of June, 2014
At this point, I sent him of to go out and find some reclaimed timer, according to the sizes we had drawn up.
This is the article that was put onto the Ipswich Hospital Website
Art student’s determination to succeed
4th February 2014
Art student Alex Osborne was just 25 and in the third year of his art degree when he suffered a stroke which affected his right side.
While he was on our stroke unit right handed Alex’s determination and the support of the team helped him to try using his left hand for his art work.
The colourful result has spurred him on and he went home determined to practise using his left hand and go back to UCS in Ipswich in September to complete his degree.
Describing the painting as “a start” he plans to keep it as a reminder of his first attempt as he hopes to improve his left hand skills.
Alex said the stroke team on Shotley were “very helpful and a pleasure to be with,” encouraging him to progress.
Ward sister Diane Coe said “He’s done splendidly. With perserverance and a great deal of patience he has done very well.”
http://www.ipswichhospital.nhs.uk/Default.aspx.LocID-009new07h.RefLocID-00903200c.Lang-EN.htm
