@geekygirl9 Thank you. I'm glad you love to draw too! Isn't that wonderful?

It was very emotional for me painting my surgeon after he fixed my spine and I did cry some while I was painting. At that time, I was 11 months post op and getting this done so I could show it to him at my one year follow up appointment. At the time, I could paint for about 2-3 hours max, and then I had to lay down and sleep for a few hours and then try to paint another session for a few hours. It takes a lot of time to rebuild muscle and I had lost muscle in my shoulders because of the spinal cord compression, so I fatigued a lot.

The unveiling was fun too. I hid it behind the curtain in the dressing area of the exam room until we had finished the medical part of the appointment. His nurse had scheduled some extra time for this. You can see some pictures from the unveiling in this discussion "Art for Healing". This Art for Healing discussion is all about how art helps patients reduce stress and be a healing environment. I was using my own artwork for that purpose and for my benefit. If you wish to post some of your drawings or creative works, you may do that in the Art for Healing discussion.

Just Want to Talk - Art for Healing
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/221703/
I also recorded video of myself painting the portrait and you can see that in the link that I will share here. Healing isn't just the physical part. It's also the emotional part of having faced something difficult and finding out that you can call on your inner strength when you need to do that. You don't really know what you've got inside until it is tested.

"A Gift for my Surgeon"