Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Cynthia Clark | Jake Grana, son of U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Brian Grana, who lost his wife Carey to...... read more read more
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HONOLULU, Hawaii - Patients, families and survivors joined together at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) for the seventh annual Oncology on Canvas on April 19. The event was designed for cancer patients and family members to cope through art therapy.
According to Dr. Pat Nishimoto, adult oncology clinical nurse specialist at TAMC, the program started nationally as a contest for those affected by cancer. When Nishimoto realized that using art could help patients and families communicate feelings about the cancer journey, she and colleagues began using it at Tripler. Instead of a contest, it was turned it into an event where patients, family members, survivors and friends could get together, deal with their diagnosis and start on the path to healing.
One of the many families participating in the event was U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Brian Grana of U.S. Pacific Command, who lost his wife from a brain tumor this past December.
“It was never not keep going forward, get back to what we do as soon as possible, but still recognizing we have to grieve, it’s constant – it never stops,” Grana said. “Dr. Nishimoto and the folks at oncology they’ve just been great. This is our first time doing it [Oncology on Canvas], when we started meeting with Dr. Nishimoto and her staff, they had mentioned art therapy and thought it was a great idea. “
According to Grana, he agrees with Nishimoto and the staff at TAMC oncology clinic.
“One of the things you realize, when you’re grieving, is that it’s all five senses,” he continued. “We all grieve at a different pace … With art therapy, it really allows you to engage, touch and see, I think it’s a good fusion, it’s just one of the many mechanisms of grieving. I think it’s great, it’s a really good idea for folks who can’t communicate real well, and it’s a good outlet.”
Joy Myrick, whose son Logan was diagnosed with Choroid Plexus Carcinoma at age five and is now 12 and in remission, participated in this event for the third year in a row.
“Art therapy is a wonderful way to express and share feelings,” Myrick said. “Being around the other families is a way for all of us to share in the frustration of treatments, sadness of friends dying and happiness of just knowing your friends and family love and support you.”
The Oncology on Canvas event was just the beginning. The art created at the event will be displayed at the Honolulu Hale in May, Kahala Mall in June and at TAMC at the end of June through July.
| Date Taken: | 04.19.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 04.25.2013 23:31 |
| Story ID: | 105866 |
| Location: | HONOLULU, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 283 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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