@ossobuco,
Another story:
I've a friend I met in architecture school who could sail rings around most anyone for her creativity level - multi talented woman. Also, beautiful and bright at the same time. She had a disability, very major scoliosis (hunchback). Her mother treated her ill, apparently rejected her as a baby, stories that chilled me but that I don't remember precisely as she told them vaguely. Her brother stood up for her. Anyway, years before I met her, she studied in the east at a major acting school. I remember the main guy's name but I'll leave it out. That was really good for her, sense of self and much else. Later she did costume design and had, in another state, a clothing design shop. She married a great guy, also an artist. I liked him a lot, in a friend way; I liked them together, what a combo. He died one night, hidden heart condition. Grief.
She went on. I last saw her about five years ago; she has been teaching different arts and crafts and doing her own art.
So - another hang in there story.