Gift to hospital staff

By Madeleine Murray

IN DECEMBER, 2020, sign artist Anthony Solano (pictured below) was in the rehabilitation ward of the Murwillumbah Hospital.

He spent almost three months there being trained and guided back to mobility after suffering a stroke.

When he left, he promised he would do a mural for the unit.

“I had a hard time coping with the sudden shock of it all,” Anthony told The Weekly.

“One minute I was active — signwriting, surfing, walking on the beach — the next minute I was paralysed on my left side.”

His stroke occurred when he was doing some heavy gardening.

“I was trying to get something done too fast.

I fell over and my girlfriend said: ‘Don’t move, I think you’ve had a stroke,’” he said.

Anthony was taken by ambulance to Gold Coast University Hospital, and later ended up in the Murwillumbah rehab unit.

“I couldn’t walk, I dribbled sometimes and bit my tongue. Everything on my left side was numb, but started slowly coming back,” he said.

“I did a bit of artwork with fellow patients, and promised myself I’d do a mural when I got out.

To keep myself sane I started doing paintings, and gave them to the staff.

“I went to rehab twice a day, went to the gym and did exercises. No more wheelchair.

“I kind of reached a certain point and plateaued.

“The staff were amazing and the treatment was great. They were friendly, with a sense of humour. I felt I could get away with being a bit cheeky.

“One day they said I could go home, and I did.”

Anthony now lives on 100 acres and does odd jobs. He limps a bit and has some permanent problems on his left side.

When he paints, he starts with the distance — sky, clouds and mountains, and gradually comes forward.

There are many things hidden in his paintings, which he fine tunes and changes many times.

Anthony is available for commissions or purchases, and can be reached on 0407 762 269.