Winning artist’s battle with rare brain condition

Emily Thornton is one of the few winning artists behind the Surf Coast Shire’s 2021 Arts Calendar, but her success did not come easy.

The 30-year-old has been an artist her entire adult life but after being diagnosed with a rare brain condition she almost lost the ability to pursue her passion.

The theme for this year’s calendar was ‘The World at Home’, which called for artists to express how the pandemic had impacted their lives.

With close to 100 entries, each piece reflected a sense of gratitude for the small things that helped the artists get through difficult times.

Among the 12 winning pieces was Emily’s work titled “The Fool”, which was a symbol of her journey, inspired by a tarot card.

“The fool represents stepping into the unknown with a light heart and an attitude of an adventurer, able to overcome obstacles and retrieve great treasure, because she is supported by the universe,” Emily said.

Four years ago, Emily was diagnosed with a cavernoma, where a cluster of irregular blood vessels had formed in her brain stem.

“I have a pretty good attitude because I want to live with joy in my heart,” she said.

“The hard truth is the cavernoma cannot be operated on because it is too deep in the brain so there is nothing, I can do to prevent more bleeds.”

During the beginning of the pandemic, Emily’s condition worsened after experiencing a significant bleed.

The bleed left her unable to feel her right side and she has since lost function of her once-preferred hand.

“The challenges are getting bigger but that just puts me in the position to keep adapting,” she said.

“My left hand is just going to keep getting better, that is the attitude I have to have.”

Emily says the recognition her art has received from the community is an indication of what she is able to achieve.

“I can finish a painting, I can enter it, I can win, and I can make more,” she said.

“I am good enough with this disability.”

The achievement comes just months after Emily was faced with the challenge of overcoming her immobility.

“There is pretty severe doubt that gets in the artist’s mind when they can’t translate their inner world to the outer world.

“The lack of expression can be suffocating but it forced me to adapt because I realised I couldn’t live without it and I have this whole other side of my body that is functioning.”

While Emily has suffered many losses, she says it is hard to focus on the negatives because of the many gains she has endured.

“The powerlessness and uncertainty of watching and waiting to see what happens can be shattering. The cavernoma freed me to stop, like COVID forced us all to stop.

“I have had space and time to adapt to my body and been given an opportunity to bring my passion into my everyday life.”

The 2021 Arts Calendar is now available for free at select locations across the Surf Coast Shire.