Jesus David Mendez Sequeda, who was born without arms and legs, uses his mouth and his heart to paint.
SPRINGFIELD — When he is working on a painting, Jesus David Mendez Sequeda is in another zone.
"I love thinking of the landscapes and making them real on canvas," said the 17-year-old artist and patient at Shriners Hospital for Children.
Sequeda, who is from Bucaramanga, Colombia, was born without arms or legs. He is currently getting fitted for prosthetic limbs at the hospital.
"We are so thankful to Shriners for all they have done for us," said his mother, Myriam Sequeda. She is her son's main caregiver.
Although it had some financial troubles in 2010, the hospital, which provides orthopedic surgery and prosthetic limbs to children from all over the world free of charge, is surviving.
After generous donations from the community and opting to accept health insurance in some cases, the hospital continues to operate in the city.
This is the second visit to Shriners for the family. Sequeda received his first prosthetic arms and legs when he was 13 years old. He has grown since then and is being fitted for new ones.
Sequeda may have no arms or legs, but his family his mother, father and three sisters, treat him as if he did.
"I didn't want him to be limited or to think that he couldn't do things," said his mother, who taught Sequeda how to hold a pen and later a brush when he was 5 years old. He uses his mouth or his cheek and shoulder to hold brushes and pens.
"Initially, I just wanted him to be able to write well. I never thought he would become this talented painter," she said.
Sequeda is now taking online university courses in computer engineering from a school in Colombia called Multicomputo. He has a Facebook page to communicate with friends he has made all over the world.
"I like working with computers. I like talking to my friends online, and I love painting," he said.
Sequeda and his mother are staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield where Enix Zavala is the house director.
"We have families here from all over the world at no cost to them," Zavala said. "We are so happy to have Jesus David and his mom here. He truly is an inspiration."
He has even made a friend, 14-year-old Juan Piccharo, from the Dominican Republic who stayed at the home along with his father, Felipe Picharro, until last week.
"We are so happy to meet another family going through similar struggles. Our two families have formed a lovely friendship," Felipe Picharro said. The family hopes to remain in touch through Facebook.
Sequeda's paintings are inspired by his home in the countryside. He is hoping to have an exhibition of his work before he heads back to Colombia with the help of the man they call their angel, Rodolfo Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is the founder and executive director of Open Hearts, Open Doors Inc., a non-profit organization that helps children all over the world dealing with life-threatening illnesses or cases like Sequeda's.
The Colombian born man said he knows from experience what it is to live a life of privilege and also what it means to live a life of poverty.
"There is something within me that makes me want to help these families," he said. "When I see a young man like Jesus David who strives to make a difference in this world, how can I turn away from him? I just can't. Everyone deserves a chance, an opportunity to find fulfillment in their lives."
Sequeda's mother said Rodriguez has helped transport them to the United States, allowed them to stay in his home, connected them with Shriners and changed their lives overall.
"I don't know where we would be without his help. Where we come from, these things are not possible. There is not a lot of consideration for handicapped people, and life is very hard," she said.
Seuqeda said he is so grateful to Rodriguez and all of the people who have helped him achieve his goals.
When he is not in physical therapy at the hospital Sequeda paints.
"I want to live my life fully. I want to finish my education, and I want to be a painter and have my paintings sold and hanging in people's houses," he said.
Although he loves to paint, it is very difficult to purchase materials, including canvas and oil paint, which is his favorite medium.
To donate painting supplies to Sequeda or to the Ronald McDonald House, contact Zavala at (413) 794-5683.