Central Ohio woman finds new passion after suffering from a stroke

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A central Ohio woman has discovered a new interest after a medical emergency changed her life.

In 2013, Mary Jo Fetch tells NBC4 she suffered a stroke.

“I couldn’t use my right side,” Fetch said. “I can barely write right now. I can use my right hand a little bit, but not much.”

After navigating that health challenge, and then breast cancer, Fetch vowed to stay active. She tells NBC4 she stumbled upon a watercolor set while cleaning her home at the Abbington of Arlington and that was the start of a new passion.

Her new passion was executed with her non-dominant left hand – the hand she still has use of following the stroke.

“It’s like you have to get your brain in a certain mode and then you could do it,” Fetch said. “Some days I slip, and I can’t do it very well but then I get it in the groove and then it works.”

This artist discovered her new passion in November 2023 and not even halfway through 2024, the 83-year-old has recently secured a grant with the Columbus Art Council. She has begun teaching her peers the ins and outs of her new passion all while grasping that brush with a new hand and outlook on life.

“I wrote a proposal; I told him what I’d like to do and so that I got it,” Fetch said. “There were 400 applicants that got a grant. I was one of them.”

Fetch tends to focus her artwork on flowers and plants. She takes her time crafting each leaf and petal, perfecting the shadows and depth. She is truly taking time to slow down, appreciate life and stopping to enjoy the roses.

“It makes me feel so good, yeah I’m delighted when somebody looks at my paintings and enjoys it,” Fetch said.  “I’m just delighted.”