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Key Benefits
Artist Statement I have always liked the arts throughout my life. I have always enjoyed theater, drawing and looking at art whether it is a piece of pottery or a marble statue size of a human. But I wanted to pursue medicine after college because it was a dream of mine. I really started taking digital photographs not too long ago. To me photography became a form of art therapy. On my good days when I felt some relief from my chronic headaches I really enjoy everything about the city of Boston. Boston is a city full of life and that always reminds me of the great spirit of people. Just take a look at the great architecture, the relaxing garden in middle of the city, the annual events such as the Head of the Charles and activities such as adaptive sports for the disabled for people who are physically challenged. I strongly believe that there are many great people out there to help and to me that is the human spirit. One thing that we all have in common too. The photos of Boston always motivate me and hope you enjoy them as much as I do as well.
Artist Bio Sebouh Kandilian was born on July 30, 1976 and moved to Massachusetts at the age of nine to have a brain tumor surgery. Unfortunately the benign brainstem tumor was not completely operable due to its sensitive location on the brain stem and cerebellum. Doctors at Childrens' Hospital removed as much as they could without leaving him with any permanent disabilities. Unfortunately, the residual mass regressed as expected and Sebouh underwent radiation treatment to stop the re-growth. This did not stop Sebouh from continuing his life and pursuing my dream of being a doctor one day. Sebouh worked hard in high school and wanted to study biology in college. Unfortunately college years were full of surprises for him. During his sophomore year he was having a lot of trouble with headaches and constantly feeling fatigued and nauseous. Sebouh just could not figure if it was the heavy load of courses consisting of genetics and organic chemistry the finals that was around the corner. The last thing he thought of was this tumor coming back to haunt him again. Unfortunately in 1996 he was diagnosed just after his exams with hydrocephalus at Mass General Hospital in Boston. Sebouh was devastated because he was in middle of college and had so much to achieve. He underwent more brain surgeries in college after that year for both a cyst and a hematoma. Sebouh missed much valuable time but he worked hard to graduate with his class. After graduating in 98 he was accepted to The New College of Optometry and he could not believe that one day in February of ‘99 his whole life would change. Sebouh was at home that evening when his face started to tingle and feel numb. He knew this was serious and could not risk his health. He went with family to MGH and that night changing his whole life completely. Sebouh could hardly walk by the time he walked to the emergency room and was rushed to the operating room because he was having a hemorrhagic brainstem stroke. The tumor was now bleeding and doctors had no choice but to remove the tumor completely. This left Sebouh with a lot of neurological deficits that changed his life completely. He worked hard in rehab but has been living with double vision, some slurry speech, constant headaches, difficulty walking, right facial paralysis where he cannot chew on that side, has to use a straw to drink, has hearing loss in the right ear and also ringing of ears that makes things that we take for granted very challenging. Sebouh tells “am fortunate to be alive, but for me life is a struggle, but hopefully my positive outlook on life will help me get through each day.”
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