Algona woman begins art career after diving accident leaves her quadriplegic

Jessica Olsen's life was never the same after an accident on Clear Lake on her 30th birthday.

On July 20, 2023, Olsen dove off of a water scooter in shallow water and broke her neck. She became quadriplegic instantly.

"I was out on the lake with a bunch of friends," Olsen told the Register. "I knew right away that I broke my neck. I knew I was paralyzed."

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She spent about 10 days in intensive care at a Mason City hospital before transferring to the Craig Rehabilitation Hospital in Colorado.

She was there for four months. Her husband, TJ, took off work to stay by her side during recovery.

He brought their two sons, Charlie and Emmet, to support her and learn how to take care of their mother. Olsen's mother was there as well.

Rehabilitation wasn't easy, Olsen said, but it helped her navigate her new normal of being paraplegic.

"The first month was pretty rough," Olsen said. "I was just kind of out of it, and I was in so much pain. It was a lot to take in."

Rehabilitation involved physical therapy and learning how to use an electric wheelchair, a stark difference from her life before the accident, when she was a nurse at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona.

She was able to finally able to go home in mid-November, achieving her goal of being back in Algona by Christmas to celebrate the holidays with her family. But now she has to live her new normal: a lack of mobility.

Before the accident, "I was kind of a busybody," she said. "I would just do all sorts of things to keep myself busy."

Walking and using her hands are among many things she can no longer do.

She had nerve transplant surgery in March, but it will take around a year to see results.

"I don't have much hand function at all. ... I can brush my hair and my teeth, I can kind of get dressed myself," she said. "I'm very dependent on my mom and my husband."

Launching an unexpected new career

Something she found to keep her busy is painting. A friend had offhandedly mentioned it, asking if she'd tried it.

"I thought she was crazy," Olsen said. "But I tried it and I realized, 'Hey, this is kind of therapeutic.' It was very calming. In the moment I don't think about how I can't walk and how I can't do all these things, because I'm so focused on painting.

"I just fell in love with how it takes my mind away from reality," she said.

Her pieces, mostly in watercolors, reflect the things she can see outdoors. She uses a special paintbrush adapted so she can easily hold it.

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"I really like to paint flowers," she said. "I don't even know what kind of flowers they are. I just started painting random flowers, and I really enjoy it."

Some of her work also depicts cacti, strawberries and birds.

She never expected her art career to take flight. But her aunt, Colleen Comway-Schiltz, helped her explore the option of selling note cards as a way to share her art with her community.

"She sent me a box one day as a surprise, and I opened it, and it was full of these beautiful cards (with my art)," Olsen said. "And she asked 'How do you feel about selling these in shops?' And I said, 'Let's give it a try.'"

Olsen's first collection became available in early June in boutiques in Algona, Des Moines and the Kossuth Regional Health Center gift shop.

Conway-Shiltz said her art took a turn from "trauma and turmoil" in her first pieces, to "soft and pretty" in her latest works.

"She doesn't give up easy. She has grit and determination," Shiltz said. "She's going to figure a way out to make to make the best of what has happened to her, and to not let that define her."

Where to find Jessica Olsen's note cards

• give., 4825 EP True Parkway, Suite 102, West Des Moines.
• LOUIE., 4885 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines.
• Craig Hospital, 3425 South Clarkson St., Englewood, Colorado.
• Palo Alto County Health System, 3201 First Street, Emmetsburg.
• Eisenhower Health 39000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, California.
• The Market, 207 North Moore St., Algona.
• Pam's Final Touch, 319 East Call St., Algona.
• West Vendee, 100 East State St., Algona.
• Kossuth Regional Health Center Gift Shop, 1515 S. Phillips St., Algona.

Plans are in the works to offer her work at Iowa City boutiques, as well. Olsen has a new collection, "Nature's Palette," available now featuring fruits, popsicles and rainbows, and, of course, flowers. You can see her portfolio on her website, jessicaolsenart.com .

"She's got a real talent," Conway-Shiltz said. "She's thriving a year out of being of this accident. I'm just so proud of her."

Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Algona woman begins art career after diving accident leaves her quadriplegic