Dodo Newman
“I think for most people, recurrence is the biggest fear factor. Yes, you can get out of it the first time, you can recover. But you don't know what's going to happen a year from now, 2 years, 10 years.”
Kevin Nakawatase
On Christmas Eve, he felt a dull ache in his arm and an overwhelming heat. By Christmas Day, Kevin was paralyzed on his left side.
Kevin’s stroke came without warning 10 years ago, no slurred speech, no face drooping, and it left him in a hospital bed staring into uncertainty.
Although the stroke had knocked him down, Kevin knew he wouldn’t let it keep him there. With a glass-half-full perspective, sharp humor, and the unwavering support of his wife, Franca, Kevin got to work, tirelessly reconstructing his life.
Today, he’s not only a survivor—he’s an advocate inspiring hope in others and proving that light can emerge out of even the darkest of days. Still, every twinge, every unfamiliar ache, brings a moment of doubt, an unshakeable reminder that the life he rebuilt could change in an instant, just as it did that Christmas Eve.
Dodo Newman – the artist
Dodo Newman, an international artist based in Germany, found that the project resonated deeply with her mission of bridging the inner and outer worlds, inviting viewers to explore the interconnectedness of our existence. She saw it as a unique initiative that unites diverse fields—from health and personal journeys of struggles to art—and believed that the world needed more projects sharing such profound messages. She felt privileged to have been part of it.
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