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Teen overcomes pain, wins 12 ribbons in art competition at fair
Chuck Kirman / Star staff A table covered with wooden toys in the Youth building, August 4, 2008, is a big attraction for kids as signs posted encourage kids to touch and play with the selection.
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In the youth building at the Ventura County Fair, 14-year-old Sam Coultas stands 6 feet tall, wears black size 15 Converse high-top sneakers and carries a mess of colorful balloons in his pockets.
The Ventura resident grins at the ribbon declaring his watercolor painting — a woman saying "Meet me at the fair" on a cell phone as she and several children walk past food vendors and rides — the first place winner in the Fair Theme category.
"Every piece is judged against the standard, so it's kind of like when a teacher grades a paper. An A' quality will receive a blue ribbon," said Peggy Kroener, youth building superintendent, of the youth building's annual art exhibit.
Of the 12 watercolor paintings Sam submitted, he won one second place ribbon and nine first place ribbons (including the Fair Theme ribbon), a Judge's Honorable Mention ribbon and a Best of Department ribbon.
"I feel happy. Mostly I'm just excited I got it all done," said Sam, who will enter eighth grade in the fall.
But his joy at winning is about more than a few ribbons.
Sam completed the paintings while battling chronic pain from a condition that left his muscles so weak his kneecaps began to turn backward and his heart needed to be placed in a heart holster, said his mother, Sharon Coultas.
"It felt like if someone took your leg and turned it as far as it could go and then took a hammer and hit you on the kneecap," Sam said.
The pain in his knees began about three years ago when Sam was attending a private school, but doctors at the time attributed it to growing pains because of his height, his mother said.
The pain escalated until one evening when Sam's parents found him crying hysterically and rushed him to the hospital, where doctors confirmed that Sam's kneecaps were, in fact, turning backward, Sharon Coultas said.
"His muscles were like mush," she said, adding that Sam had low muscle tone when she and her husband, Henry, adopted him at age 3. "The doctors told us, The muscles aren't holding the bone,' and that goes back to him being born with low muscle tone."
Sam was pulled out of school and enrolled in Homestead School, a home school program run by Ventura Unified School District, which gave him more flexibility with doctors appointments and physical therapy sessions.
During this time, his mother bought him a book on how to make balloon animals, and Sam began making balloon animals and hats twice a month for children from low-income families waiting for chemotherapy and other treatments.
"Most of the time, I try to be a good role model for kids," said Sam, who never leaves home without a pocketful of balloons.
As an elective for the home school program, Sam began creating art without lessons, producing the watercolor paintings he submitted to the fair.
"Sometimes my knees were aching from sitting for such a long time, but most of the time I would forget about it," Sam said. "The pain makes me think (winning) was more of an accomplishment for me."
Kroener said the judges had no knowledge of Sam's condition before making their decisions.
Sharon Coultas said physical therapy sessions appear to be helping Sam, who no longer feels extreme pain daily.
"He hasn't had a problem in a good three months," she said.
"I've been a Christian my whole life, and that taught me that even though we go through a lot of bad stuff, everything will be all right in the end," Sam said.
Posted by deepwater805 on August 7, 2008 at 4:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This kid is an inspiration to all of humanity. Way to go dude!
Posted by opns on August 7, 2008 at 5:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sam, you are quite an inspiration to me, congradulations with all of your ribbons which i know are quite deserved. Mom and Dad, you should be named parents of the year! Thank you for making my day.
Posted by UncleRico on August 7, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You the man, Sam!
Posted by caffeinefree on August 7, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Sam go. And Sam, I still don't like green eggs and ham!!!!
Posted by opns on August 7, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, and Sam, I'm going to the fair tomorrow - i'm gonna go check out your cool stuff. I can't wait!!
Posted by GitRdone on August 7, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CONGRATULATIONS SAM !! GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS !!
ALSO WHAT YOU DO FOR OTHER CHILDREN & BEING SUCH A GOOD ROLE MODEL, IS WHAT THIS SOCIETY NEEDS MORE OF....PEOPLE LIKE YOU SAM.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK SAM & THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE GREAT ROLE MODEL THAT YOU ARE.
GRAT WORK PARENTS & I'M SURE YOU ARE VERY PROUD OF YOUR SAM.
GREAT STORY !!
Posted by imonlysayin on August 7, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's so nice to come here and read a positive, inspirational story involving youth instead of the norm.
Sam - congratulations! Thank you for being such an inspiration to so many!
Posted by BeaHappi on August 7, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a great story! Sam you are one awesome kid...good for you!
Posted by venturapagan on August 7, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go Sam! Seems you had better luck than the adults arts did. Good, considering you learned on your own!
"Every piece is judged against the standard, so it's kind of like when a teacher grades a paper. An A' quality will receive a blue ribbon,"
Apparently they only use these standards in the Junior dept., 'cuz the judging in the adults art dept. was a joke. One day they'll get ppl with art backgrounds to do the judging....I hope.
Posted by FedUp on August 7, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
way to go Sam! keep up the good work.
Posted by stmidwife on August 7, 2008 at 9:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Your artwork is a true inspiration, we enjoyed seeing it at the fair. God has given you the gift of inspiration to others. Keep up the good work!!
Posted by opns on August 10, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sam,
I saw your work today in the youth building - you are quite an artist, i loved the snow picture, the basketball player that has Bulls 45 t-shirt, and also the theme of the fair "Meet me at the Fair" 'Pinkies', i made it a point to go see your pictures because I said I would. I was so encouraged by you young man - keep up the good work!
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