Artist John Schindler gives a special present to his former therapist

Posted on March 13, 2014

Artist John Schindler gives a special present to his former therapist

Spray-paint artist and former lymphedema patient John Schindler paid a visit to the Mary Free Bed Outpatient Therapy Clinic today to bestow a gift upon the woman who helped him regain his hope and freedom three years ago.

“It was one of my darkest points. I was at my wit’s end,” 26-year-old John told physical therapist assistant Arlene Tompkins as he gave her one of his recent works. “If I hadn’t seen you when I did, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”

An intensive three weeks of lymphedema management treatments, a compression sock and a tutorial on how to do his own lymphedema massage reduced the swelling in John’s leg by 76 percent. He’s now back to running and snowboarding.

“It took a lot of work but I have overcome it,” says John, who signs his work with his middle name, “Zeno.”