Children’s Art Project

Over the years, Bill and I have often sent Christmas cards from the Children’s Art Project, which is celebrating their 50th year. These cards are designed by children going through cancer treatment at M. D. Anderson. Profits go towards funding various pediatric patient programs, including an annual ski trip, summer camps, and scholarships. The art work is also used on other stationery and gift items. 

I like how it gets kids’ minds off cancer and helps them focus on what they can do. It helps them find Hope.    

almost finished!

On Monday, I take my final radiation treatment at M.D.Anderson — then I am free for the next 8 weeks. At the end of each milestone in fighting cancer, they have patients ring a bell like this one. I would rather sketch the bell in my journal than ring it. Above the bell is a plaque with the following lines penned by Irve Le Moyne:

Ring this bell

Three times well!

It’s toll to clearly say,

My treatment’s done

This course is run

And I am on my way!

At the end of the 8 weeks, I have various tests, imaging, and doctors’ visits — then finally surgery to remove anything that’s left of the tumor (there may be nothing left at all!) and to reverse the colostomy that I’ve had since February 28, the beginning of this journey.

comfortable not knowing

This potted plant was in the radiation waiting room . . . so I drew it.

last week’s little sketch

This is the only sketch I managed to do last week — and not having my regular sketchbook at the time, I drew it in the smaller sketchbook that lives in my purse. Maybe I’ll sketch more this coming week?

an early birthday

Bill’s birthday is on Tuesday but our granddaughter is home from college this weekend so we thought we’d move his birthday to today. That way, Mikala can share the carrot cake our daughter Kristen has made him.

I borrowed a bit of wrapping paper from Kristen for one gift — then wrapped the other in one of my headscarves. The tiny watercolor palette I used is a Texas mints container; the paint wells are made of a cut section of a mini silicone ice cube tray with room to the side for a bit of sponge.

my latest ebook

As a kid I fell in love with the Classics, books mostly written in the 19th century, after reading Charles Dickens. Our school library books of this genre had a list on the back of other Classics to try — so I did.

But somehow I missed Wilkie Collins. Recently I read this ebook and loved it, but the “cover art” looks more to me like the 1920s rather than the 1850s. Fun to try drawing it though.

another waiting room

I didn’t get much sketching done this past week — only this small drawing done over 3 days. Begun in pencil on the spot (until the radiologist called my name), ink added the next day as I waited, and color not until today at home.

waiting for radiology

This messy sketch is looking out from the inner radiology waiting room at West Houston M.D. Anderson. I messed up the sky when the brush accidentally hit it with blue gouache (from the “Grow Untamed” palette), eliminating the clouds. Then I forgot that the ink I had written the text in was not waterproof.

On the good side, I’m having NO negative reactions to radiation!

new treatment

My first radiation treatment was on Monday, followed by routine bloodwork. Then I was supposed to have a reduced amount of chemo through a pump. We waited an unusually long time for a nurse to call me back to the treatment area from this door. Apparently they were waiting for orders from my doctor. Bloodwork showed my white blood cells were once again too low for chemo — so this week I’ll have just radiation without the chemo pump.

That is, as soon as I get back on schedule. I’m posting this 2 days later — the first 2 radiation treatments went fine, no side effects. But once more I had unexplained blood show up in my ostomy bag so I’m in the ER under observation. Guess I’ll miss today’s radiation. I am not a “patient” patient — I just want to move forward with treatment!

cuppa tea, anyone?

Our little red tea kettle finally wore out, so we bought a new, larger capacity one. Now we can boil enough water for my tea and Bill’s French press coffee pot.

Some pages in my sketchbook journal are actually more journaling than art. Since this journal tells my experience with cancer, I wrote a bit of the recent things I’ve been going through. But I’m not always sure about posting these pages.