Ford Hallam: Following the Iron Brush

Hi,

My name is Kevin Klein and  I’m making this Go Fund Me for Ford Hallam for a few reasons. 

Ford just had a heart attack attack and can’t, or at least should not  work for the next six weeks. Doctors orders. And I know that will not be easy financially, and there’s a pretty good chance he’ll try to work as a result. Which we don’t want. He needs to be healing, not getting worse. He already has been dealing with an auto-immune disease, and has a continuous lung problem called interstitial lung disease as a result of poly myocitis. More specifically, he only has a portion of his lungs left.

I can quite easily imagine Ford cringing while reading this. He doesn’t want to ask for help, so I am.

Ford is one of the finest artists I know and has taught and helped a number of other artists along along the way. My work wouldn’t be what it is today, and I wouldn’t have the goals I have, if it weren’t for him. 

You’re able to view his work and read a bit about him here

https://www.fordhallam.com/

A few more word's from his lovely partner Bella, and how most of us were informed of what's going on.

Thank you,
-Kevin

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some upsetting news.


Hello everybody, this is Bella, for those of you who don't know I am Ford's partner and I also help him with his films.


I am posting for Ford because I need to let you all know that he was taken to hospital on Friday after having a heart attack.  It had actually started the Sunday before with Ford being in some very severe pain, but he would not go to the doctor and carried on working for another week before he finally admitted defeat. He is ok and stable now, and absolutely in the best place so please don't panic. 


Tomorrow he will have an angiogram, where we will find out what needs to happen next.  He may just need stents, he may need more invasive treatment but at least something will be done to help him now.  For over a year he has been struggling so much with his breathing and pain in his body, we thought it was just his auto-immune disease getting worse and we were worried.  It turns out that he has been having heart problems and the constant stress and worry of everything has clearly made it worse.  


He would not stop working, he was very worried about money and having to meet bills, and on top of that he was desperate to finish up the book project and finally get it published so as not to let anyone down, but he was having to find time to do that around the paid work.  He was literally working himself to death and I for one am glad in a way that now he has to stop. It makes me angry that he is even in a position where he is scrabbling for money to pay bills when he has a talent so huge and brilliant.  I wish we lived in another time where his kind of talent was celebrated more. People play the financial markets making money out of nothing and yet people who do make beautiful things in the world like poetry and art, or wonderful music end up killing themselves out of desperation. 


Anyway.


The doctors have said that he will need to take at least six weeks off work and we will somehow have to find a way to manage.  Being self employed is no fun sometimes but we have my Goldsmithing work and hopefully that will be enough. 


I hope now these next few weeks allow Ford to reflect on what he really wants - he wants to make his own art pieces that aren't commissions and then maybe have a show. I want desperately to help him do this.  I don't know how we will do it because of the constant need to chase the rent, but we must do it.  


Thanks for reading and I will keep you posted when I know more tomorrow.


Bella



UPDATE

Hello everyone - Bella again. Just to say Ford is out of surgery now and it’s good news   he has had seven stents put in and he said it was horribly painful, the doctors has to struggle with
one artery getting through and the stent in. 


I am delighted though, it’s the best outcome for him.  I am passing on all your messages and love. 


And now he must rest! I will have to wrangle him I am sure   


Thanks again for all your lovely messages of support and hope. They mean so much to him, and to me.