MENASHA, Wis.— A Menasha man has found new meaning in life through art.
Erik Scribner was a marathon runner, a student, and a writer.
All that changed very quickly 25 years ago when a neurological disease quickly left him paralyzed and blind.
Several years passed before he regained the use of his hands and could see again. Today he’s paralyzed from the chest down.
“There’s always someone worse off,” said the self-described eternal optimist. “You will grow, you can still have a good life.”
Scribner said he’s in a good place because of what he gets to do every day - paint.
“I want to do something that I’m capable of,” he said. “At this point in my life, this is something that is challenging but not impossible.”
Scribner said he’s proven to himself he is capable of plenty despite the hand he was dealt.
Several of his paintings were just accepted to the Advocate Aurora Virtual Art Show. He said he’s proud of the accomplishment.
He achieved this despite only seeing colors in his dreams.
He’s color blind and sees only shades of gray. He said that doesn’t matter. He’ll take being able to see at all any day.
“For me to be able to open my eyes and see light whenever I want to that to me is like wow, I can see,” Scribner said.
Scribner continues to persevere with every stroke of his brush.