I worked with L as an artist in residence for well over a year after she arrived at Inova Schar Cancer Institute to begin yet another in a long series of treatment programs - having been diagnosed with stage IV cancer five years earlier. It was especially gratifying for me to build a relationship with a fellow artist whose creative inspiration and self-proclaimed “warrior” spirit were, as she proudly expressed, her greatest assets. 

 

L was most often accompanied for treatment sessions by her sister, K (and occasionally by her father and other siblings). K shared her sister’s love for creative expression and she often also drew and painted her own work. Together, they approached the years-long life with cancer experience as an adventure, including dressing up as favorite film and television characters for some chemo sessions (hilariously captured and shared on L’s smartphone). 

 

L’s art was always bold and engaging in whatever medium she chose to work. Soon after we began our sessions together, she created a collage around one word - "Resilience" - which I thought was an astonishing piece when finished. At the next session, she presented me the collage, framed and signed, as a gift.