GREELEY, Colo.—Proving once again that serious injuries can’t keep a determined person down, Philip Rangel teaches art and draws landscapes despite being paralyzed.
The Greeley artist picks up the pencil with his mouth and uses his neck to move it around.
Rangel summed it up in a comment to KUSA TV: “I’ve always loved art.”
Twenty years ago an accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. But in recent decades doctors and patients have learned countless new ways to teach the brain new ways to operate. Studies have shown that unused parts of the brain can take over for damaged areas.
Some studies even suggest the brain can generate new cells.
Denver comedian Josh Blue has had a successful career despite his condition, and plays on the national paralympic soccer team. Several service members who have lost limbs and returned to the military with prosthetics. For decades ski areas have been teaching disabled people to ski well on various equipment.
In Rangel’s case, the accident sidelined this artist’s hands, but not his spirit. He said can’t ever recall feeling sorry for himself, though it wasn’t even teaching himself a new way to draw.
Phil Rangel, his father, said it is amazing that he just keeps getting better.
When he felt useless the ability to draw kept him going.
—————————————
On the Net:
Rangel’s art: .
