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| "Rachael Driving the Boat" 30" x 24" Oil on Canvas. 2019 |
Rachael Crosby was two years old when she was diagnosed with NF1 due to a spontaneous mutation. She passed it down to her two sons: Dawson and Ashton. NF caused her to be in speech therapy until the 4th grade. She had a very large plexiform removed from her inner thigh when she was a teenager and also a large fibroma removed from the bone in the shin when she was a child. She has had several fibromas removed from her abdomen and back. Rachael has had to have multiple surgeries where fibroma covered organs have been removed such as her gall bladder, tonsils and appendix. The PCP has told her that they believe her organs failed faster due to the NF. Rachael also has battled cancer once before and had to have a full hysterectomy at age 23 because of it.
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| Prep Sketch for "Rachael Driving the Boat" |
Rachael wishes she didn’t have NF but tries to stay as positive as she can being as active as she can be. Her motto is “I live for today because tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone.” She loves fiercely and fully as she always knows there is someone else worse off than her. She tries and makes the best of everyday and tries not to sweat the small things. She always over analyzes before speaking when upset because she does not want the words she says to possibly be the last words someone hears or be the last that she possibly says.
Her son Dawson had ADHD, ODD and Dyslexia which all caused some learning disabilities for him. He had a large plexiform removed when he was 7 that was rope like and wrapped around his collarbone and shoulder blade and went down into his rib cage. He also had kidney issues. He passed away at age 13 due to brain cancer. Ashton has a large fibroma in his rib cage and sternum area and has a little learning difficulties but for the most part Rachael believes they all have a mild case compared to some, but continues to raise awareness for both NF and childhood cancer because she believes they both deserve a cure.
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