A digital image that shows a black male stick figure against a blue background. The right arm and leg of the figure resemble lit sparklers.

Artist’s Statement:

Neuropathic issues can range from irritating tickles that feel like bugs crawling all over your skin to occasional extreme pain. One aspect of this disease that can be difficult to deal with are the invisible symptoms – the stuff you deal with in silence. People might see you lift a 1 pound weight, not realizing that to you, it weighs 20 lbs. I’ve come to learn that most of the time, it’s best to just deal with these symptoms silently, without always feeling the need to have everyone around me fully ‘get’ exactly what I’m dealing with at the time. Just that in itself can be exhausting, both for me and for them. If they ask, a simple “I’m doing OK” is my standard answer.


Bio:

Music has always been my first love, but after getting my BMus from University of Toronto, I switched directions and studied art at OCAD. After graduating I worked as an Art Director at various advertising agencies before eventually becoming Group Creative Director at MacLaren Toronto. As my MS symptoms progressed, the demands of that career – the fast pace and demanding hours – finally became too much to handle.  

Since 2014 I’ve been on long-term disability.  I’ve had to say goodbye to many aspects of my ‘old’ life, as I learn to accept the realities of my new life. I use my creative hobbies to remain connected with the world around me, specifically painting, illustration, and writing music. This disease can be very cruel, in that over time parts of your body and/or mind seem to die one at a time, and you never know what will be next or when it will occur. I’ve had to learn to make friends with uncertainty. MS may not be a death sentence, but it is indeed a life sentence
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