Friday, July 2, 2010

Shining Star

Arms filled with supplies for that afternoon's art group, I arrived at our hospital's playroom. Three children and a grandmother were waiting by the door, champing at the bit to come in. Regretfully, I told them it would be a few more minutes, that I had to get some more supplies. They looked at me woefully. And after another few minutes of shuttling supplies, I explained we were short staffed and Grandma explained that they were having a hard time getting through a 10 hour surgery for her grandchild.

"Trumps my story! Come on in!" I said. Seriously though, its a constant balancing act between staff and patients. Shortly after the siblings arrived, in skipped Natasha, nine year old sibling of Jeremy who's been hospitalized for the last several months. It's rare that we have siblings coming daily for several months but it does happen. Natasha is a joyful child, always skipping, looking out for new friends in the children that arrive and depart, and unerring in her observations about me, noting my quirks with a shrewdness often reserved for one's own children.

Because of kids like Natasha, I try to keep the projects for our art groups varied during their stay. This requires some fun sleuthing on my part and I recently discovered the blog creative jewish mom. This former Manhattan designer turned Israeli citizen has a fantastically cross referenced blog, easy to navigate and filled with inspiring and eco-friendly projects for kids (and adults).

I picked out a sunburst project--it seemed day camp like. Although many of our kids may not have been to camp, nevertheless we like to pull in familiar associations to summer; ice cream, water play, lemonade and the like and use these to create experiences that evoke a camp style comaradery and closeness between kids.

With a little fast glue gun work by my colleague and I, we created a series of 10 or so sunbursts and opened up shop. The kids came crowding in, eager to dip their brushes into the paint and cover the rays of their suns in rainbow hues. For one five year old hadn't painted before, the discovery of paint's ability to cover a surface was revolutionary. Another three year old considered each choice of color like a seasoned pro, painting the spokes with his favorite shades of green and blue.

My focus was on Natasha. She takes each project to heart, finding a way to tailor it so that she can later present it to her brother. It tugs on my heart each time I see her brother's initials or name appear. After the initial rush was over, Natasha and I sat together painting. It occurred to me that I knew very little of what she does after the staff and volunteers leave for the day. I don't know why I hadn't asked her before, but I did then.

She told me that she often read to her little brother, or drew in his coloring books for him, or simply watched a movie together. Her words touched me immensely and I woke up this morning thinking of her.

Instead of wondering about "what I had to do today"--or which things might not be going my way, or even what I might be able to accomplish, I thought of this child's courage, her indomitable spirit and her ability to remain hopeful, inspired, inspirational and loving in spite of all that she's seen.

I recently read something the Dalai Llama said, "It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come."*

*Many thanks to Iona Drozda for this quote
SoulCollage® card above by Anonymous

16 comments:

  1. Heart warming post! I was listening to a Zig Ziglar tape yesterday. After he had a brain injury he said he looked at each day with excitement as in what will happen today. Going along with the life is an adventure theme.

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  2. What a life line art is. What a fabulous service you provide. I heart Natasha.

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  3. I love what you do Hannah for these children--opening up a whole creative world to them--the true definition of art therapy--love this post and your story of Natasha.

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  4. This is one of the most beautiful posts I've read. You are an angel to those children. The story of the little girl reading to her brother ... heartwarming. Thank you for sharing this with us.

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  5. Beth--it isn't great when you can drop into that zone of amazement?

    Leslie--A life line indeed--one which I enjoy both tossing out and grasping every day!

    Diane--I like your definition of art therapy: the opening of the creative world...thank you!

    I'm honored by your words Meg. Sometimes I feel like the children are the angels and I'm the earthbound one! They jolt me out of my small world with their words and images.

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  6. A circle of healing. Little Natasha will probably remember these days making art with you for the rest of her life. My youngest daughter remembers vividly the times she spent at the hospital visiting her sister and as a result she cannot bear to visit anyone there. Imagine if she had been able to create art on some of those early visits. It is wonderful that you concentrate on the family as well as the patients.

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  8. You know Robyn, I've never thought about the time after N. leaves and what her impressions will be--thank you for this. We work hard to create family centered care and I love working with family members.

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  9. Each new day a gift. Thanks for sharing this beautiful story.

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  10. Beautiful story! I agree with Meg. You are an angel!

    And thank you for the link to Creative Jewish Mom. That's a keeper.

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  11. Thank you Paris and Claudine--it's such a pleasure to work with these kids. I always feel like come away with more than I've offered...

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  12. Hannah the beauty of this story is so pure and heart felt... so sorrowfully joyful and soulful...there are so many visual references and so many emotions..layers of feelings... each word wound round with compassion.

    So lovely. You have touched Natasha's heart for always.

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  13. I was moved close to tears as I read your piece, your words made me feel as though I was there yet my heart was simultaneously breaking for Natasha and celebrating her strength. Kind of puts things into perspective in one's own life.

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  14. Donna--I love the notion of words round with compassion--makes me think there is a possible art therapy project hidden in those words!

    Amy, I know. That's the way isn't it?--that paradox of heartbreak and healing...

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  15. Hannah, thank you for sharing this heartwarming story. It brought me back to the hours of artmaking my daughter did to pass the time when she was in the hospital a year and a half ago...it kept her mind and hands busy and focused on something other than feeling ill and frightened. We loved to rummage through the supplies in the Child-Life studio on her floor, looking for the perfect buttons, paper and paint to soothe her soul.

    Sounds like Natasha is truly a blessing...not just for her little brother and her parents...but for you as well...sometimes blessings are revealed in the most gentle, lovely packages.

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  16. Laura, thank you. I'm so glad to hear that the Child Life dept. in your hospital was helpful for your daughter. It's amazing about how engaging in something with the hands sends messages of relaxation to the whole body. I never tire of seeing it happen.

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