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Artists Lend a Hand, Or a Realistic Foot, To Iraq Amputees

May-11-2005 » Filed Under: Michael Oreskovic

Michael Oreskovic is featured in the following story on the front page of The Wall Street Journal. Their content is usually for subscribers only, but the following link should work for the next 7 days. Leave a comment if you have a problem.

UPDATE: You can view photos Mike took of the artist at work on the same day the reporter was there.

Link to Full Article
By GREG JAFFE, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

WASHINGTON -- Two years ago, Chuck O'Brien was in Hollywood making cadavers for "CSI: Miami." His masterpieces included a partially digested torso that spilled from a shark and a finger that oozed sweat.

But he says he got "sick of making dead bodies" for demanding directors. He also worried that computer animation, cheaper and faster than building fake body parts, was rendering his skill obsolete in the movie business.

So on a rainy spring morning last month, he found himself hunched over a Marine's foot at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here. Cpl. Corey Webb had lost his left leg in Fallujah last June when his Humvee, rushing to a firefight, collided with a U.S. tank. Now, Mr. O'Brien was painting a silicone replica of the missing appendage as the 23-year-old corporal posed, showing off his remaining foot under bright hot lights. [...]

At around 10 a.m., the three artists began work with Cpl. Webb and Cpl. Michael Oreskovic, the Army soldier who lost his arm to the truck bomb. Mr. Curtain pulled out a photo album of some of his patients posing with and without their prostheses. [...]

Cpl. Webb, the Marine, dozed off. A few feet away, Cpl. Oreskovic, who was having his hand made, talked with his father about his plans. The 23-year-old soldier said he intended to go to college.

"Why not stay in the Army?" his father suggested. "You could go into military intelligence."

Cpl. Oreskovic shook his head. "If they won't let me go back to my scout platoon, I want to get out," he said.

Mr. Rubino, the artist, was busy painting Cpl. Oreskovic's pale, white skin and freckles. Freckles are a bear, Mr. Rubino said. But the toughest skin tone to match is Hispanic skin, which has a deep reddish brown tint that is distorted by the silicone's slight grayish hue, he said as he worked.

The entire article is worth reading.

Alternate Version: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a version of the article that does not require a subscription.


Comments For "Artists Lend a Hand, Or a Realistic Foot, To Iraq Amputees":

http://www.strykernews.com/gallery/Oreo1?page=7
There are pictures of the work they were doing on Michael's hand when the reporter was there. Check it out if you have not already.

Posted by: Mike Oreo | May 11, 2005 1:25 PM

Mike Oreo!
I like these updates. It sounds like things are going well for your son. I think about you often and keep you in our prayers. I am still touched and thankful that you attended Chase's service. It is hard to believe it has been a year.

I especially liked the last comment on the article, being amazed at their resiliency. I am amazed! God bless you!

Posted by: Laurie, Chase's mom | May 11, 2005 8:51 PM

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