In March of 2018, Shawna Magnusson had a nightmare of a morning.

While walking across her living room floor to let her puppy out, Magnusson blacked out, and woke up staring at her ceiling. She couldnB次元官网网址檛 move her arms and legs, and had to yell for her husband Kris to come check on her.

Realizing something was direly wrong, he called the paramedics.

Magnusson was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Vancouver where she was to spend the next few months of her life. As a result of the accident, which broke her neck, Magnusson became a quadriplegic.

B次元官网网址淚 remember telling my husband that I feel like IB次元官网网址檓 a bump,B次元官网网址� she said.B次元官网网址� I canB次元官网网址檛 do anything. I canB次元官网网址檛 even scratch my own itch on my nose if I wanted to.B次元官网网址�

He told her to keep her hopes up, and insisted he wouldnB次元官网网址檛 leave her side.

B次元官网网址淪o of course that made me cry,B次元官网网址� Magnusson said.

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While learning how to exist in her new reality at the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver, she used to pass by an art studio in the facility. One day she took a peak inside.

Magnusson had always been interested in crafting. SheB次元官网网址檇 used socks and clothes pegs to make artsy items for around the house, and had recently started experimenting with pyrography (wood burning).

A lady within showed her a beautiful painting of a fox.

B次元官网网址淚t was so lifelike,B次元官网网址� Magnusson said. B次元官网网址淚t looked like the fox was going to leap out of the picture.B次元官网网址�

She was told the artist had painted the crafty animal using only her mouth.

B次元官网网址淪hut the font door!B次元官网网址� she recalls saying. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 amazing.B次元官网网址�

Within minutes Magnusson had a brush in her mouth and was painting a cherry blossom. Over the course of two weeks of jaw-aching work, she added buds and a branch to the flower, and painted the background blue, before signing it. Her husband insisted on keeping the work.

B次元官网网址淗e said, B次元官网网址榃hen you become a famous artist, I can say I got the original one,B次元官网网址� and I looked at him and smiled,B次元官网网址� Magnusson recalled.

Shortly after, she painted a lighthouse which hangs within a frame in a central place in her room at Evergreen Seniors Home. ItB次元官网网址檚 joined by dozens of other paintings that cover all the walls in brilliant colour. There are even a few in the bathroom.

New ideas for paintings are always coming to her.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes I think about where IB次元官网网址檝e been, or where IB次元官网网址檇 like to be,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淥r sometimes, IB次元官网网址檓 just trying to think of something to calm me. Because I like to get away from my negative thoughts B次元官网网址揼et away from feeling like a bump.B次元官网网址�

From time-to-time she says she feel like the rugs been pulled out from under her.

B次元官网网址淎nd then I have to stop and count my blessings, as my auntie Debbie would say. When I get done counting them, I look at my wall and say, B次元官网网址楽hut up, Shawna, get out of this stinkinB次元官网网址� thinkinB次元官网网址�.B次元官网网址�

The staff at Evergreen Seniors Home have been buying up her work, Magnusson noted, so sheB次元官网网址檚 painting often to keep up with demand.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like I canB次元官网网址檛 get them done fast enough,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淧eope are biting!B次元官网网址�

To view Shawna MagnussonB次元官网网址檚 work, and possibly buy their own painting, art lovers can visit

ronan.odoherty@campbellrivermirror.com
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