SALINE: Despite traumatic brain injury, Jamal Bell thriving artist

A life can change in an instant, but that doesn't always mean the change is permanent.

Saline resident Jamal Bell sustained a traumatic brain injury in a car accident 16 years ago at the age of 6 that left most of his body immobile, but now, thanks to the therapy team at Special Tree Rehabilitation System, based in Romulus, Bell has become his treatment clinic's resident artist.

"As long as I've known him, that's been his gig. He must be a right brain kind of kid," said Joe Richert, Special Tree's director of community rehabilitation services.

"He's always had that artistic knack and it was obviously something we included in his treatment. It was his interest, and we were able to foster it through his rehabilitation process."

For Bell, the type of art doesn't' matter, as long as he can create. He said his craft helps him relax and take his mind off the physical problems he deals with.

"I like working with all different mediums. I don't always use the same thing," he said.

"I really like calligraphy pen because you can mess up and it can still come out as a good picture."

Special Tree specializes in brain injury and spinal cord injury rehabilitation with more than 25 locations throughout Michigan.

The company offers a range of treatment programs from childhood to adulthood, including vocational and community rehabilitation services that help clients like Bell to build on their skills and talents to become as independent and productive as possible.

To that end, Bell is taking college courses and any vocational opportunities Special Tree can provide for him that focus on the arts. Continued...

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SALINE: Despite traumatic brain injury, Jamal Bell thriving artist