I'm Nat, I've been part of the old Headway Coventry and Warwick for many years and I'm excited to be part of the new Headway Coventry & Warwickshire. I had Guillian Barre syndrome which caused a brain injury and paralysed me from the chest down. I was in hospital for eleven months and went to a neuro rehab hospital for 5 years. During the time I was in hospital I had paint brushes strapped to my hand to try and get some movement in them. I had never painted before I was ill. I loved this and I have been painting ever since, I love the freedom it gives me, I am totally dependent on people for everything in life, I am hoisted, tube fed, can't stand or walk and have lots of medical machines and people helping and supporting me, which I am so so grateful for!!!! But painting is my freedom. Painting can take me anywhere I want to in my head, painting is a way that I can control everything around me what's on the canvas or paper... or not, sometimes I just love 'playing' with the paint. I love the colours, the texture and even the smell of it, I feel so relaxed and free when I paint. I can't dance any more but if I play music while I paint, I feel like I'm dancing. I think all my family, friends and everyone around me has things that I have painted for them and I do lots of painting for another charity who have encouraged me to do more and share it. I have loved this so much. 

 

This year I decided to take part in designing the Christmas card for Headway UK, I was so excited they have picked my design as one of the ones they want to use for the Headway UK Christmas cards.

 

My card shows penguin friends and family enjoying their time together, I wanted it to be about friendship and understanding each other however we are and whatever we have been through. I'm a permanent power chair user so I really wanted to have one penguin in a chair, I want to show that everyone is important, everyone matters and that friendship, love and understanding is the best gift to give anyone at Christmas (and for the rest of the year too).

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Nat's cards will be on sale now at our monthly SFA Groups or contact us directly.  All proceeds going to Headway Coventry & Warwickshire.