Read Toi Ora artists Keith Hopkins story below:
I’m now 73, at the age of 60 I suffered a major brain aneurysm, that nearly killed me. After four major brain surgeries, a month in a coma, and four months in rehab relearning basic care skills, e.g dressing one’s self, I finally returned home. At this time my wife went into hospital with her first cancer, and during the day I was home alone, due to my children being at work.
A new neighbour moved in next door, and we got talking about life, and I told her about my experience in the last few months. She said, “I work at Toi Ora, you should come along, it’s the right place for you, you’ll enjoy it!”
A few weeks later I was enrolled and rearing to go! Before the aneurysm I was a Special Needs teacher, so I thought I knew the lay of the land, wasn’t I in for a surprise!
I’ve been at Toi Ora since 2014, and I’m so grateful for the facilities, the wonderful staff, and the fantastic artists! I’ve always been interested in the arts. My mum, and my oldest sister are artists, and I was an artist until the aneurysm. Now instead of drawing I write stories and poems. What inspires me now is life itself, and being a person watcher, because humans are such a funny bunch of creatures whose life stories are filled with humour, quirkiness, love, hate, and creativity.
My other artistic endeavour I’m learning is the guitar, which is a real challenge for me, as I have no rhythm, and because of my brain injuries I struggle to remember the chord structures, but I haven’t given up and I’m determined to learn, and hopefully master the guitar.
My tip for anyone learning something new is go for it. Don’t worry about making mistakes. The neural surgeon said I would never walk again, I proved them wrong. My cancer specialist said I had a certain amount of time before I passed, I proved them wrong!
I’m learning to enjoy myself, and I’m learning new skills, writing and the guitar!
I’m finding there’s no right or wrong way in my life, and I’m enjoying every bit of time and life I still have, and take every opportunity that’s handed to you!
Before my aneurysm I glided through life, and now my mantra is, “Memento Mori,” which means, “Remember Death,” and by remembering Death I remember to Live! I now try to learn something new, within reason, and I enjoy my new life. My advice to anyone, “go for it, try everything, and try something new, you never know, the new thing you are learning might be the thing that you’re great at!
I enjoy my new life, I stumble at times, I just pick myself up, dust myself off, I don’t worry about what others think, I have nothing to lose, and everything to gain!
Thanks everyone ever so much, you’re all contributing to my zest for life.
-Keith.
