My story is one of courage and resilience. Life crippled me. A near death experience began twelve long years of recovery. After miraculously rising from a hospital death bed where my bone marrow had shut down, I was left in a wheelchair. I moved on to white knuckling a walker and then finally walking on my own. This journey produced a myriad of original oil paintings and songs. I forced my pain into the background by focusing on painting in oils. This also allowed me to travel in my mind. When life hurts too much for words, I paint. When it hurts to much to be silent, I sing.  When it tries to steal my joy ... I laugh.