Imagine being invited to speak at an event called Celebrate Our Voices and, when it was my turn, barely a whisper came out. What I thought was stubborn laryngitis became a diagnosis of a rare condition, adductor spasmodic dysphonia, on April 18, 2023.
At first, I resisted the diagnosis and refused to join a support group because I believed acceptance meant defeat. I was in denial. My job is my voice. Art became my way through.
I initially created calming work to soothe my nervous system, but after the Eaton Fire worsened my symptoms, I realized healing required more than staying positive. It required giving my anger somewhere to go.
This piece began with a scribble and became a cathartic message of grief, frustration, and rage I had suppressed. The bright washes represent moments when my voice sounds like itself. The dense black marks threaten to swallow the light, reflecting the constant effort to be heard and the battle between vocal clarity and strain.
Advocacy means using my voice and art so others with spasmodic dysphonia feel less alone. Through support groups, podcasts, Dysphonia International, and workshops, I help transform isolation into expression, connection, and hope.
Category: 2D Visual Art
Rare Disease: Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia
Birth Year: 1972
