Brooke Pelczynski’s life with Multiple Sclerosis is an inspiring example of someone taking their diagnosis and turning it into something great. Most recently, her varied career has led to her working for Marvel Comics!
Brooke was undertaking her BFA in Illustration in New York when the fatigue and clumsiness that resulted in a number of ruined artworks was diagnosed as Multiple Sclerosis – at the age of only 21. Although she now feels that MS had crippled her career, Brooke has since used her disease to build a career as an artist, illustrator, and comic-creating multiple sclerosis fighter!
As well as her full-time role providing illustrations for MultipleSclerosis.net, her work – in a variety of forms – has been featured by a variety of clients and publications including Yahoo, Momentum Magazine, Hotel Indigo, Lifewire, and many more. Brooke also worked as a story consultant for Marvel’s Darkhawk comic series, using her experiences to inform the title character’s own journey toward an MS diagnosis.
Topics covered in this episode include:
- Brooke’s life before her diagnosis with MS aged only 21
- How, after feeling like MS had crippled her life as an artist, Brooke was able to use comic art to build her career
- The way that Brooke’s work for MultipleSclerosis.net fits around her “Perfect, shitty situation” – and how she always strives to remain creative, even on her worst MS days (MSiest?)
- How she got involved as a story advisor for Marvel’s Darkhawk comics
Resources for this episode (clickable links):
- Visit the Patients Getting Paid podcast and community – join soon in order to beat the price increase!
- Help keep FUMS alive at the FUMS Podcast Patreon page – or buy FUMS Merch
- If you’re getting value from FUMS, please consider leaving a review wherever you’re listening now
- Visit brookepelczynski.org/ and see Brooke’s profile on MultipleSclerosis.net
- Connect with Brooke on Instagram
- Read an excerpt from ‘Darkhawk’ #1: A Conversation with Kyle Higgins and Brooke Pelczynski
- Watch Kathy’s video, Kids Whose Parents Have MS & the Wonderful Results on MultipleSclerosis.net
- Listen to FUMS episode 114: The Art of Rebellion With Kick-Ass MSer Lydia Emily
** Sign up for The FUMS 6-Pack here: The FUMS 6-Pack.
~ Special thanks to my podcast editor Steve Woodward. Do you have a podcast or are you interested in starting a pod? I HIGHLY recommend adding Steve to your team. Find him at PodcastingEditor.com