Ottawa double amputee gets an unexpected early Christmas gift from nephew
According to Canadian media reports, Muhl was overjoyed to see his lost painting of more than 50 years back when both his arms were factually blown off in 1964 after being electrocuted with about 2400 volts by touching the wires in one of the hydroelectric poles.
Muhl’s nephew, Pierre-Shawn Turcotte had read “an announcement on Kijiji talking about this rare painting by this 11-year old-boy, who had painted it with his teeth, named Peter.”
After confirming that the painter was his uncle Peter Muhl, Turcotte bought the painting by paying the full marked price of $350 and sent that to his aunt and uncle just in time for Christmas.
The owners David Underhill and Phil Robichaud said that they had bought it many years back at a local auction.
“It was Christmassy,” Robichaud said in a phone conversation from Fredericton, “and we love Christmas. And just to know the story behind it, it was great.”
Muhl who had been for 52 years trying to adjust to life with his prosthetics was filled with both happy and painful memories when he saw his lost painting.
“I was using my mouth to paint with watercolors and I won first prize”, said Muhl who had been asked to take part in a Christmas card contest.
“Memories came flooding back after 52 years,” Muhl said copple of days after receiving the painting, “Mostly good, I try to think of only the good ones.”
“Now we can share this with our kids and grandchildren,” says Jocelyne Charron-Muhl, and added that she would have paid far more than $350 for the painting.
Muhl enjoyed life to the fullest with amazing positivity even though he had to undergo 14 operations, spend 9 months in the Montreal Children's hospital and six months in rehab after losing his arms.
“I'm proud of (that boy from 1964),” he says, recalling his younger self, “I look back at myself and I’m proud of what I accomplished. Facing what you do, you have to put your best foot forward and accept the challenge. And I did.”
The couple hung the painting in dining room, which was ready for Christmas dinner with the family.
“Is it straight?” asks Jocelyne as she hangs it up.
“It's straight,” answers Peter, “and it belongs there and will be part of every Christmas from now on.”
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
Image of Peter Muhl’s painting: Wikipedia
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