Biography of Riia Talve

Riia was born prematurely at a weight of one pound thirteen ounces. Shortly after birth Riia's parents were told to say their good-byes. For a month they waited while their baby girl struggled. Fighting for her life she began to breath on her own; their prayers had been answered. Riia was one of the first babies to be sent home with an oxygen tank. Shortly after her birth she suffered a grade 3 brain hemorrhage, which resulted in learning disabilities later in life. The hemorrhage also effected her fine motor skills and it was suggested by the doctors that she would have difficulty doing tasks that required those skills, which include photography and artwork. She was diagnosed at the age of fifteen with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and at the age of eighteen suffered a breakdown, which resulted in a hospital stay. Photography and painting were a coping mechanism which quickly sprouted into her career. .