Because of NF, Jeff Hanson is visually impaired from an optic nerve tumor in which he nick named “Clod”. The tumor started causing severe vision loss in 2006 and Jeff received radiation and chemotherapy. Jeff kept a great attitude throughout his treatment even while losing his hair and becoming sick. Jeff said good bye to his home school friends and spent the rest of high school at the Kansas State School for the Blind. He took this in stride, and used humor, creativity and a headlong immersion into his artwork to defeat “Clod”. On his last day of treatment, Jeff showed up in a tuxedo to celebrate.

Jeff started painting watercolor notecards when he was 12 years old to raise money for NF. It was a hobby since his visual impairment prevented him from doing sports and the usual kid activities. He moved onto large canvases and acrylic paint. Jeff’s art is abstract and bold as his vision does not allow him to create concrete images. As of 2013 and before his 20th birthday, Jeff’s artwork has generated over one million dollars for charity. Jeff does not want to be thought of as the blind NF kid from Kansas, he wants to be remembered as an artist and a philanthropist.

Jeff was diagnosed with a new NF brain tumor in Oct 2020 and spent many weeks in the hospital. He spent several weeks in hospice with his parents before passing away right before Christmas.