Please Help Make a Difference!
Ruth Furtado is a 55-year-old artist and resident of East Providence, RI. In 1999, when she noticed numbness in her toes, she just chalked it up to tying her sneakers too tight. What she could not have imagined was that it was the beginning of her battle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). By February of 2010, she was hospitalized with a flare up of her MS symptoms which left her permanently disabled.
Prior to Ruth’s diagnosis, this once vibrant woman was a graphic designer for eight years. Since then, she discovered the endless possibilities for creativity in Photoshop. Ruth describes herself as a self-taught artist who started by experimenting with fractal art, using a multitude of different brushes and gradient effects to create some extraordinary, otherworldly artwork. She feels profoundly blessed to have relearned how to create these inspiring images by using her left hand since she no longer has full function of her right hand. Despite any challenges MS has created, Ruth’s motto is to “adapt to the changes, find a new way to do things when you can no longer do them the way you used to”. She will NOT let this disease define her and will fight every day to take back what has been taken from her.
Updates (9)
August 16, 2018
I know it's been a while since my last update. It's been a roller coaster ride! I was plagued with severe lower back pain for much of 2017. MRI revealed stenosis and a bulging disc in my lower lumbar region. PT and meds proved to be mostly ineffective. I was fortunate enough to spend the summer in SoCal with Dixon and his family where I was wonderfully pampered, something to which I'm completely unaccustomed! On January 21st of this year, I fell and broke both bones in my lower right leg as well as my ankle. Surgery was done and the breaks are pretty much healed now. Also, 3 weeks of bedrest seems to have relieved my back pain! A total of 8 weeks of rehab and I was home again albeit in a wheelchair but home. 3 more months of PT and OT and I'm mostly back to using my walker again but the wheelchair is still necessary sometimes and I can no longer drive my SUV. Unfortunately, the numbness and weakness from MS has worsened and spread and the fatigue is at times overwhelming... now I hope and pray for a miracle...
March 7, 2017
March 7, 2017
Thank you to my friend Judi who generously contributed to my fundraising efforts! Judi also ha MS and has been receiving Stem Cell treatments for several years so she knows the benefits...
Photo Galleries (3)
Guestbook
September 23, 2016
HI sweet facebook friend! It's not much but I pitched in $25. All the best to you. Be well <3 :)
Chris Largey
September 15, 2016
I hope the new treatment helps you feel better and relieves some pain...
Love
Rick
Rick Aguiar
