Background

In January 2024, at the age of 56, I survived a hemorrhagic stroke. Initially, I couldn’t sit up in bed without support, much less walk or use my hands. I also struggled with vision impairments, challenges that persist to this day.

During the first few months, I received intensive therapy, learning to walk and use a knife and fork again.

During the quiet hours of the day, I practised walking independently. Despite significant balance problems and weakness in my legs, I steadily paced up and down the hospital corridors using a walker.

I desperately didn’t want to become someone who could only sit in a wheelchair and watch TV all day.

After a few weeks, I began venturing outdoors on my own. This was a significant milestone, as I could now visit shops and purchase crafting and modelling supplies independently.

With 50 years of experience as a modeller. miniature painter and wargamer, it only felt natural to explore new creative possibilities in the face of challenges and limitations. Gradually, toy soldiers and model kits began to appear in my room.

I discovered that they brought me a profound sense of joy, despite the challenges involved in picking them up and trying to arrange them on the small shelf I had available in my room.

Psychologically, this was an important step, as it was something I could fully control on my own.

A couple of months later, I moved back home. I can now take care of myself, handle all daily chores such as shopping, cleaning, and laundry independently, and have returned to my job as an IT consultant, working 12 hours per week.

My main challenge right now is neurofatigue. I become exhausted very quickly, even from small, simple tasks. As I grow tired, everything feels increasingly difficult. By the end of the day, forming complex words becomes a struggle due to partial paralysis of my lips.

This all demands careful planning and prioritisation, requiring me to break all projects into manageable segments. Consequently, everything takes longer than before.

I also have double vision and difficulty focusing on small objects. This makes painting quite challenging but possible. The real object and brush are the ones on the right.

I hope you discover ideas and inspiration to fuel your own projects here.