Hurricane woman with rare autoimmune disease paints picture of resilience

Written by Jessi Bang
January 17, 2023
Artist Linda Toombs smiles next to her painting of Delicate Arch, Hurricane, Utah, Jan. 11, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Artist Linda Toombs smiles next to her painting of Delicate Arch, Hurricane, Utah, Jan. 11, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

HURRICANE —Battling a progressive autoimmune disease hasn’t stopped one artist from pursuing her dreams, even if she wished she had done it sooner.

A painting by Linda Toombs is shown, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Linda Toombs, St. George News
A painting by Linda Toombs is shown, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Linda Toombs, St. George News

“I wasn’t supposed to live long enough to watch my kids graduate, so I set that as my new goal,” artist Linda Toombs told St. George News.

With memories of drawing at 5 years old and people making a “fuss” over her talent, Toombs said putting pencil to paper has been a form of therapy and expression for as long as she can remember. After she received a paint set for her birthday, the medium became her main creative outlet.

“I loved art – I loved creating,” Toombs said. “I just thought everybody did. It was my form of communicating with myself and a way of surviving things.”

When the idea of career-oriented women began to be accepted, Toombs was asked what she wanted to do. When she stated she wanted to be an artist, she said it wasn’t an acceptable answer and considered a “fluffy hobby.” Instead, she was put into cosmetology school.

A painting by Linda Toombs is shown, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Linda Toombs, St. George News
A painting by Linda Toombs is shown, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Linda Toombs, St. George News

While she pushed forward with the sole goal of making an income, she said she found herself, her dreams and her spirit fading away. She went on to focus on raising a family and continued to put her artistic dreams on the back burner.

When her kids entered high school, Toombs said she was diagnosed with Systemic scleroderma, a progressive autoimmune disease that affects the skin and internal organs. As her health declined, she chose to get rid of her art supplies, feeling she wouldn’t need them anymore, and focused on surviving long enough to help her kids pursue their own dreams. 

“They’re what I’ve lived for more than the painting,” Toombs said about her children. “They’ve been so inspirational to me, just to watch them change and grow.”

She was given the possibility of five years to live, with a max life expectancy of 10. 

That was 14 years ago.

Paintings by Linda Toombs hang inside Red Cliffs Gallery in St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Linda Toombs, St. George News
Paintings by Linda Toombs hang inside Red Cliffs Gallery in St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Linda Toombs, St. George News

“One doctor laughed at the thought of me making it to 60,” she said. “Well, I’m 63 now. I’d like to shake her hand and say, ‘I’m still here.’”

When she realized it wasn’t her time, she felt inspired to finally pursue her art and chase her dreams in a way she had never done before. She got involved with local art galleries and groups such as the Southern Utah Art Guild and the Arts to Zion and had a featured artist showcase at the Red Cliffs Gallery.

As the rare disease continues to progress, Toombs said the skills required to paint have deteriorated, and the rollercoaster health journey has caused her to take steps back from painting many times over the years.

“When I started painting again, I was really physically messed up from the disease and could barely hold a paintbrush, so I had to do the pivot and paint within that parameter of what I could do. Now, I’m starting to regain things back, such as details, which I love.”

To keep her skills fresh and her brain always learning, she returned to Utah Tech University to attend an art program for older adults taught by Del Parson. Within one semester, she saw drastic improvements in her artistic abilities. 

Paintings by Linda Toombs sits inside her trailer studio in Hurricane, Utah, Jan. 11, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Paintings by Linda Toombs sits inside her trailer studio in Hurricane, Utah, Jan. 11, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“Your mind and your health are attached,” she said. “I think one of the reasons I got the autoimmune disease is because my dreams were just so blown up and I became so focused on making that job, that income, that your soul kind of dies, and that affects your health. I think when I started to focus on what I like, is why I’m still alive. Your mind starts to say, ‘Aha, this is worth fighting for.’”

Toombs said she wants to put everything she can into her art career this year and participate deeply in the local arts community. She is inspired by the Southern Utah landscapes and plans to paint more of them, along with wildlife and pets.

To inquire about available art or to commission a painting, email Linda Toombs or find her on Facebook and Instagram.

“Whatever time I have left in this world, I try to do something more positive,” she said. “What’s more of a gift back to the world than through your art?”

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, “The Rambling Raccoon.” In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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