FOX POINT, Wis. — A young man from the Milwaukee area is proving that a disability does not define you.
Caleb Griswold is quite the artist. Over the past year, he has been able to take his hobby of painting and turn it into a lucrative job.
His unique talent is something his parents never thought they would be able to see. Caleb Griswold was born with a serious brain disorder called Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum. The bridge between the right and left side of his brain never developed.
Doctors told Caleb Griswold’s parents he may never walk or talk. However, he’s continued to beat the odds. Art is one of the channels that has helped him over the years. It’s become his form of expression. He said he enjoys making people smile with his creations.
If you take a look at this work, you’ll notice he has a knack for painting animals, specifically people’s pets.
“I do abstract and other paintings,” Caleb Griswold said. “It makes me happy.”
His mom, Laura Griswold, said seeing how skilled he is and knowing how far he’s come, feels like a miracle.
“To see how well he is doing, not only walking, talking, but doing all his art and connecting with people, has just been the biggest blessing,” Laura Griswold said.
Over the past year, Caleb Griswold has been able to turn his gift into a thriving business called “Paintings & Paws.”
His work is available in some local stores and online. He also takes custom orders from people and paints their pets for them.
“He has this limitless energy,” Laura Griswold said.
However, he’s not the only one in the family who found a creative outlet. Since Caleb was born, his mom, Laura Griswold, has been recording conversations and interactions with him to document what life is like navigating a disability diagnosis.
Through these recordings, she’s written a book about the highs and lows of parenting a child with special needs. Her book is called “Caleb the Conqueror: A Mom’s Story of Hope.”
“It was important for me to write the book because I wanted to share hope for parents who received any kind of devastating diagnosis for their kids,” Laura Griswold said. “I wanted to encourage them, and make sure they know they are not alone.”
She said being Caleb’s mom is her greatest honor.
“It is such a joy to see him thriving in our community and in his life,” Laura Griswold said.
To check out Caleb Griswold’s work, or hire him to do a portrait of your pet, visit his website.