Brandon Sketching on the Porch - prep sketch |
Rachel Mindrup
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Case Study #119 - Brandon Sketching on the Porch
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Case Study #118 - Rebecca Planting in her Garden
"Rebecca Planting in her Garden" 30" x 24" Oil on Canvas |
Rebecca Tovar was in her late 20’s when she was diagnosed with NF1 through spontaneous mutation. In her early 40’s she had a large fibroma removed from her left psoas muscle due to intense pain, while wrestling with the fact that surgery could impair her ability to walk unassisted. Worry started to set in but with family support and faith in God, she knew she could persevere. The surgery was a success but left her with permanent numbness in her thigh.
Rebecca prep sketch |
She’d like to bring awareness to others about NF by participating in various NF related functions and activities. She’s happy to have her husband, Chris, and entire family’s support by continuing to pray for her and be with her. Rebecca doesn’t want to be defined by NF and strives to stay positive despite it.
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Case Study #117 - Antwan Motivating Others
"Antwan Motivating Others" 30" x 24" Oil on Canvas |
Beneath Antwan’s surface, neurofibromas attempted to lay claim over his life, an unseen struggle that led to chronic restrictive lung disease. His body transformed, and with it, his life changed. A ventilator and supplemental oxygen became Antwan's constant companions. He was 29 when he first had to start using the ventilator due to his lung having restricted space and not able to fully expand. It started out just when he was sleeping, but overtime his lungs just grew weaker and now he has been having to use the ventilator full time now. Throughout his NF journey, Antwan met adversity head-on. He has undergone 18 surgeries and faced daily medical challenges that would cause many to lose hope. He recognized that adversities did not dictate his destiny; they were stepping stones shaping him into the man he has become.
In Antwan’s younger years, doctors cast a shadow over his future, predicting a significantly shortened life expectancy. Contrary to their predictions, Antwan has proven them wrong. At the age of 37, when doctors believed he wouldn’t see past eight, Antwan’s journey through life has been one of unwavering perseverance and determination. He chose to live life on his terms and not be constrained by circumstances.
Prep Sketch |
Antwan channeled his trials and tribulations into strength and passion. This ignited within him a desire to inspire and support others facing their hardships. He eagerly shares his conviction that individuals are not victims of their circumstances but architects of their destinies, capable of overcoming adversity.
Antwan’s story is a beacon of hope and resilience, reminding others that it is possible to rise above even the most daunting obstacles. While neurofibromatosis is a part of his life, it does not define who Antwan is but is a facet of his complex existence.
The painting that bears witness to Antwan's journey is a testament to his indomitable spirit. It portrays defiance in the face of neurofibromatosis and celebrates the power of the human spirit. The canvas is his battleground, where adversity is met with resilience, challenges are confronted with courage, and it becomes a symbol of victory over a disorder that threatens but never conquers.
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Case Study #116 - Frankie's New Wheels
"Frankie's New Wheels" Oil on Canvas. 2023. 40" x 30" |
Prep Sketch |
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Case Study #114 and #115 - Thad's Eye Surgery
The Journey Starts Today (Before and After) 2022 Oil on Canvas Diptych, Each 36" x 36" |
Monday, June 19, 2023
Case Study #113 - Eli After Surgery
Sound After Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery 40" x 30" Oil on Canvas. 2021. |
Medical procedures have been a part of Eli’s life for his entire 14 years. When he was a baby, E was diagnosed with a rare eye condition, in which his retina detached at 12 months, leaving him ultimately blind in his left eye. His right eye has a small cataract that continues to be monitored. At 5, Eli was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), after a skin biopsy. Very young for a person, especially with a spontaneous case, to be diagnosed. This is when more procedures came about.
When Eli was 9 he had a C-5 tumor removed that was pressing on his spinal cord, and another at T-5 at age 11. MRI’s, audio exams, eye exams and numerous specialist visits across the country have been a common part of life. At age 13 when Eli’s hearing began to show decline and his right Vestibular Schwannoma (tumors on his auditory nerves which control hearing and balance) began to grow, he had cranial surgery in an attempt to preserve hearing. The family was unsure if Eli would wake up with any hearing at all in that ear, but thankfully, his hearing has remained stable after surgery.
Although the family is never free from appointments, change or worry, Eli is an amazingly well adjusted and resilient teen boy, who loves friends, skating, bike stunts, and to wear his earbuds, and thankfully, is still able to listen to music through both.
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Case Study #112 - Jacob on a Photo Shoot
"Jacob on a Photo Shoot" 2023. Oil on Canvas. 30" x 24"
Jacob was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 as a baby. Having this disease has been difficult for him at times, but it also had made him who he is today. Jacob went through a number of clinical trails as a child to try to reduce the size of one of his tumors. He had to spend a lot of time at the National Institute of Health (NIH) where he had to get a variety of different tests done every 3 months for a few years to monitor the tumor growths. As he got older none of the clinical trails he had participated in worked, so now he just gets checked up on once or twice a year to make sure there has been no growth or any additional tumors that have shown up.
Prep Sketch for "Jacob on a Photo Shoot" |