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.
