Dear Artist,
Robb Dunfield was an active nineteen-year-old sportsman, ski instructor, and all ’round good chap when he had his accident. He and three of his friends plunged from an insecure balcony of an unfinished building. Robb received irreversible injuries — a severed spine.
Robb Dunfield painting section of a large painting
Robb was confined to a quadriplegic hospital, paralyzed from the neck down. For years he lay there, a ventilator doing his breathing, at times without even his voice, a ward of the state and a source of anguish for his family. One day he told me he wanted to learn to paint.
We worked together over a period of years. My idea was that Robb would be not just a good mouth painter, but a good painter — period. For his part, he saw painting as the key to his independence and self-respect. It was frustrating just watching him. He would take hours to do what you and I can do in minutes.
large oil painting by Robb Dunfield
Robb Dunfield persisted. People began to be charmed by his oils and his gentle nature. One day he told me that his goal in life was to be a giver and not a taker. I suggested he might have some of his works turned into photo-litho prints and offered as fund-raisers for charities. As of today Robb’s work has directly raised over $1,500,000.00 for Paraplegic Associations, and other charities. This sort of generosity has been a factor in facilitating the sale of his originals to his own benefit for excellent prices.
Today, twenty-two years after those few seconds that changed his life, Robb is a successful artist, public speaker and facilitator of young people to face inevitable change and to reach toward achieving their dreams. Free of hospitals, he lives in an elevatored home in the country, is married to beautiful Sarah and they now have their very own twin girls. Not bad for a hopeless case.
Sarah, Robb and their twin girls
Best regards,
Robert
PS: “People with disabilities still constitute a small minority. Yet the Beautiful People — the slender, fair and perfect ones — form a minority that may be even smaller.” (Debra Kent)
The book If Sarah will Take Me by Dave Bouchard, tells about his remarkable life and what he’s achieved so far.
This letter was originally published as “They said it was hopeless” on April 21, 2000. To date, Robb is the Senior Coordinator for the Rick Hansen Ambassador program. If you’d like to know more, watch the 2014 video, “Meet Our Ambassadors — Robb Dunfield.”
16 Comments
Once again you inspire and move me with your words. Whether republished or new these are the thoughts that keep me going when my creative work stumbles. Love ya…hhd
You have so inherited your father’s generous spirit! Thank you Sara.
great motivational letter to anyone who has doubts . you only have to imagine , what could be , to make it a reality . never say never .
BEAUTIFUL!
Thank you. Robb Dunfield is my first poster boy. He has become my motivational broom to sweep a multitude of competing time distractions aside and focus on reaching my most creative and productive self.
I won’t be forgetting this story any time soon. Such generosity of spirit moved me to tears. Thank you for this inspiring, motivating, open hearted post.
….what an inspiring life story…..thank you…
Key words: be a giver not a taker
Thank you, Sara!
A beautiful Mind, a generous heart, and a talented and skillful artist. Nothing is lacking; he owns the world!
Thank You for sharing this article. Love it!
Thank you for sharing this…very beautiful and inspiring…
Inspiring &motivating
Wow, wow, wow! I am so moved by Robb Dunfied’s story! This is so amazing and inspiring. What an ecouraging light he is! Thank you for posting this.
This inspiration came at the right time for me sitting here dormant in my chair recuperating from a brush with lung cancer that knocked the art out of me along with the Cancer, my energy and my drive. If Robb can pull himself above his horrific situation. I can too. Thanks Sara for republishing this post. Finding it, reading it was very Richard Bach.
I am in the hospital right now with lung disease. Thank you for this. I’m going to get a friend to bring some of my art supplies.
Many years ago there was a quadriplegic post polio survivor who drew beautiful drawings with his mouth that he then had printed and sold as Christmas cards. I used to buy them forty or fifty years ago in Southern California. Sadly, I do not remember his name.
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