Peter Damon is many things: a veteran, a former electrician, a New Englander, and an artist. These days, Peter produces about 30 original paintings per year, which is especially impressive when you learn about one additional element of Peter's identity, which is that he is an amputee.

As Peter puts it, "I lost my right arm above the elbow, about three inches above the elbow, and my left about six inches below" while working as a helicopter mechanic in Iraq.

Initially, Peter's injury left him feeling hopeless and afraid.
"How am I going to make a living and take care of my family?" he recalled thinking. "I had always worked with my hands."

But when Peter lost his hands, something new emerged inside him. He was outfitted with fairly crude prosthetics, including claw-like hands, and one of the first ways he used his new limbs was to do some light drawing. And in creating the sketches, Peter felt a renewed sense of purpose.

The veteran described the emergence of his artistic ability as "kind of miraculous."

"Something was telling me to focus on this and everything will be alright." he said.

As you can see in the video, Peter's creations are truly beautiful, conveying a sense of place and feeling through carefully crafted details and gorgeous colors. His work hangs in the gallery he owns with his wife, in his New England town, which also features the creations of other local artists.

We're grateful for Peter's story, and the reminder that when one door closes, another opens!

Video via CBS. To read more stories of inspirational Americans, visit our Facebook page or subscribe to our Only Good News Newsletter!