I’ve loved art for as long as I can remember, and over the past 35 years it has become more than just a passion—it’s been a lifeline. During treatments, long hospital stays, and recovery, I found myself turning again and again to the creative process. It gave me a way to step outside of my circumstances and remember that I was more than what my body was going through.

Why art? Because creativity has this incredible ability to shift my focus. When I’m painting, drawing, or making something with my hands, the pain feels less sharp, less demanding. Art doesn’t just distract me—it changes me. It lifts my mood, slows down my breath, and invites me into a calmer, more peaceful place where the pain doesn’t take center stage.

And that’s the gift I love to share with others—how creativity can open up space for relief, joy, and a sense of possibility, even in the hardest moments.