07/24/2025
I’m honored to introduce my art and share the story behind my creative journey—a journey shaped by living with a rare disease. My collection is inspired by my personal experiences with arteriovenous vascular malformations (AVMs) and my path of post-traumatic growth (PTG).
In 2000, at just 23, I was diagnosed with an AVM in the right frontal lobe of my brain, over my motor strip. Since then, I’ve faced seizures, surgeries, strokes, dystonia, and symptoms similar to aphasia, presenting many challenges. Through it all, art became my way to process, heal, and transform adversity into something meaningful.
I taught myself to paint with my non-dominant right hand after my AVM surgery in 2004, when my left side collapsed. One of my first pieces, “Memory Moons,” was created just months after I returned home from RIC in Chicago. At that time, I struggled to hold onto thoughts—my memory felt like the moon, drifting in and out of reach. Painting became a way to express that loneliness and uncertainty.
In 2024, I was finally able to hold a marker in my dominant left hand again. My left hand was strong enough to doodle, and that’s when I began drawing roses. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but people’s reactions encouraged me to share my art. I see these two pieces—“Memory Moons” and the growth roses—as a visual timeline of my healing journey, marking both a beginning and an ending. Together, they express my experience of post-traumatic growth.
By sharing my art, I hope to raise awareness about AVMs and help others understand the physical and emotional journeys that come with rare diseases. It took me years to be proud of my craft—both right- and left-handed—which makes this introduction especially meaningful.
Below, I’ve included definitions of some terms that are central to my story and my art. Thank you for taking the time to learn, reflect, and support artists who live with rare health conditions. It’s a long road, and sometimes hard for others to relate to, but sharing our stories brings us together.
# # Key Terms
- **Brain AVM:** An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in the brain. This disrupts normal blood flow and oxygen circulation, potentially causing seizures, headaches, or strokes. AVMs are usually present at birth but may go undetected until symptoms appear, often showing up in people in their early 20s through seizures.
- **Embolism:** Brain embolization (endovascular embolization) is a minimally invasive procedure to block blood flow to abnormal brain vessels. It’s used to treat AVMs and other vascular conditions.
- **PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder):** A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing traumatic events. Symptoms can include flashbacks, anxiety, and nightmares, often requiring therapy or medication for management.
- **Dystonia:** A neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that cause repetitive movements or abnormal postures. These contractions can affect a single part of the body, multiple areas, or the entire body.
- **Aphasia:** A language disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate. It occurs when the areas of the brain responsible for language are damaged, most commonly due to a stroke, but it can also result from head injury, brain tumor, or other neurological conditions.
- **CPTSD (Complex PTSD):** A condition resulting from prolonged or repeated trauma, such as ongoing abuse or medical procedures. It involves symptoms beyond those of PTSD, including difficulties with emotion regulation and relationships.
- **PTG (Post-Traumatic Growth):** Positive psychological changes that emerge from struggling with trauma, such as increased resilience, deeper relationships, and a greater appreciation for life.
Thank you for your support and for being part of this journey. I look forward to sharing my art and raising awareness together with this community, helping others find their own path to growth
I entered!
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https://rareartist.awardsplatform.com/gallery/oVmqroJV?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLvRUhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHheQ_6FN1KnuShWrc1Ulr7TiQ0zlfc8CH0U_rWPCSokYQxX-E-tVJAZHmvLA_aem_FGkbgnVZrVelVxEfqsE_vw
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