Update

1st attempt at drawing at the NYU hospital Rusk spinal injury rehabilitation center.

On April 1, 2024, after years of assuming the growing pain and numbness in my hands was carpal tunnel syndrome from painting, an MRI revealed I had a 7 cm tumor resting on my spinal cord. On April 23, I had the tumor removed surgically but with a few complications. I woke up from anesthesia unexpectedly paralyzed from the neck down. I’ve spent the past two months in the hospital doing physical therapy and gradually learning to walk and use my hands again, and while therapists and surgeons are confident I’ll make a full or close to full recovery, I still have a very long way to go and a lot of work ahead. I am lucky to have amazing friends and family, and a profoundly loving and helpful girlfriend helping me through this.
Apologies to anyone who has called, texted, emailed, or messaged me over the past few months. I’m unable to respond most of the time due to the lack of hand use. Obviously, I won’t be able to paint,draw, or sign anything for quite a while.
Lastly, I just spent 10 weeks with people whose lives were absolutely rocked in an instant. We all thought bad things happened to other people. It’s easy to fall into that trap. Don’t. Take care of yourself, get check ups, be smart, and be grateful for what you have while you have it.

Looking forward to painting with you all again soon.

-Cam