These oil paintings are from people living with NF all over the United States. If there are 5 or more people from a single state, they are in the State Show Collections folder.
Micki Baking Peach Pies
Dayton, Ohio ~ 2019
Oil on Canvas
30" x 24"
It would take her 25 years and a chance encounter with a radiologist to lead Micki Cole to the answers she had longed for all those years: she had NF. Being at the hospital for a different reason, Micki was changing clothes when the radiologist noticed the café au lait marks. He said “oh, you have neurofibromatosis?" With a puzzled look Micki asked, “neuro what”? Micki had never heard this despite having gone to several doctors over the years regarding “the spots”.
As a child and before the diagnosis, Micki struggled in school. She was teased for her skin and bumps. In high school teachers weren’t supportive, and she was often discouraged from exploring things she was interested in, at one point even being told “she wasn’t college material”. Growing up Micki experienced pain in her legs and grew very fast reaching five foot seven by fifth grade, this pain was diagnosed as growing pains and the horrible headaches were said to be attention seeking behavior, something she tried to explain was real but was often ignored. Despite what she was physically going through Micki was extremely active in sports, running track and field and playing softball.
Despite the diagnosis Micki has gone to college and graduate school where she graduated in the top five percent of her class. She has worked with people with disabilities for over twenty years. While Micki's softball days are few and far between, she has found a new passion for baking, gardening, hiking, biking and golf. She has completed 4 half marathons to raise awareness of people with disabilities and has raised money for NF research with these half marathons.
Micki has had a hysterectomy in addition to surgeries to remove tumors from her lung, leg, arms, back and eye. After much consideration and research, she made the decision not to have children due to the risk of passing it on. Micki continues to deal with chronic pain and has had to learn to adjust to life with it. Micki wants to let the world know that people with disabilities hidden or visible are people too. On bad days she tries to remember, God gives his toughest battles to his strongest warriors. Micki will continue to fight for her fellow NF Brothers and Sisters.
As a child and before the diagnosis, Micki struggled in school. She was teased for her skin and bumps. In high school teachers weren’t supportive, and she was often discouraged from exploring things she was interested in, at one point even being told “she wasn’t college material”. Growing up Micki experienced pain in her legs and grew very fast reaching five foot seven by fifth grade, this pain was diagnosed as growing pains and the horrible headaches were said to be attention seeking behavior, something she tried to explain was real but was often ignored. Despite what she was physically going through Micki was extremely active in sports, running track and field and playing softball.
Despite the diagnosis Micki has gone to college and graduate school where she graduated in the top five percent of her class. She has worked with people with disabilities for over twenty years. While Micki's softball days are few and far between, she has found a new passion for baking, gardening, hiking, biking and golf. She has completed 4 half marathons to raise awareness of people with disabilities and has raised money for NF research with these half marathons.
Micki has had a hysterectomy in addition to surgeries to remove tumors from her lung, leg, arms, back and eye. After much consideration and research, she made the decision not to have children due to the risk of passing it on. Micki continues to deal with chronic pain and has had to learn to adjust to life with it. Micki wants to let the world know that people with disabilities hidden or visible are people too. On bad days she tries to remember, God gives his toughest battles to his strongest warriors. Micki will continue to fight for her fellow NF Brothers and Sisters.