Bracha Fishel is an artist from Israel. She fell ill with rheumatoid arthritis affecting her spine. After the operation, her legs and arms failed and she was paralysed. She had no idea how to go on living.
At the rehabilitation centre, Braha learned to hold objects and write with her teeth within six months. When she returned home, she tried to live a normal life and continued to do what she loved – painting.
For her 60th birthday, the artist was given a service dog, Donna. The four-legged friend can fill a water jug and fetch brushes, pencils and a telephone for her owner. Holding a special spoon with its teeth, the dog can feed its owner. Bracha believes that Donna is probably the first dog to learn how to feed a human with a spoon. “We make a good team,” Braha said. “I couldn’t have done it without her.”
“Painting has helped me in my new life situation. Although I can’t do much anymore, I have found the strength to develop myself,” Bracha says. The artist is now invited to participate in exhibitions and give lectures all over the world.
“There are healthy people and there are sick people. You can get depressed or you can use your resources. We can always give something to others, even just a smile. Yes, sitting in a chair is tiring at times, but life goes on and God does not make mistakes,” she said.
