Bring healing art to kids in medical crisis

Fourteen-year-old Maceo has a sweet and thoughtful personality - a young man of few words, but boundless imagination. Long before Maceo’s hospital journey, he and his parents Grace and Opie integrated art into their lives as a way of marking, remembering, and honoring their family’s story. Maceo and Opie would engage in daily creative challenges where Maceo would give Opie an assignment to stretch his imagination, using a different medium and prompt each day. One wall of Maceo’s bedroom was filled with hundreds of drawings! A true testament to the prolific nature of their creative spirits.

Maceo and his parents came to know CHAP through Maceo’s stay at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. CHAP teaching artists Maxine and Carolyn visited with the family every week, providing a variety of art supplies and holding space for them during difficult times. While Maceo’s parents engaged in heartfelt conversations about life's journey, Maceo allowed his imagination to guide his hand, creating intricate lines, patterns, and marks on paper with fine-tipped markers. Accustomed to creating in their everyday lives, CHAP helped bridge the gap between home and hospital, facilitating familiar moments of comforting expression.

“It’s connection. It’s freedom. It’s the space to be something different and to escape from what’s going on.” - Grace, on making art with CHAP

During one special moment with CHAP, Grace crafted a fidget for Maceo. The fidget was adorned with carefully chosen, smooth beads that Maceo could hold during moments of uncertainty.  Maceo’s special fidget served as a reminder of his parents' love and helped soothe his anxieties. 

When Maceo was discharged from DCH, the family commemorated their journey by creating a collaborative art piece inspired by their time creating with CHAP in the hospital. Their art incorporates shapes that keep them grounded during difficult times and colors that bring them joy. When discussing their inspiration, the family evokes images of morning light and the warmth of the sun. Three figures adorn a pallet, representing each member of their family.

Maceo and his family are one of the thousands of children and families facing medical challenges that benefit each year from the healing power of art and CHAP services. Making art of any kind has the power to reduce stress, provide an emotional outlet, create a distraction, and even bring families together. We’re so glad we met Maceo and his family when we did so CHAP can support them throughout Maceo’s healing journey.

Links:

• Maceo, Opie, and Grace's story with CHAP

Art heals...and this young artist knows that well. While recently in the hospital, Model Magic clay was the choice for the day for making a colorful, creative gnome!

Each year, thousands of children like her enjoy the healing power of art with Children's Healing Art Project (CHAP). In 2022 alone, CHAP shared 8,745 healing art experiences for children and families facing medical and/or mental health challenges. Each interaction is unique because the child is always the decision-maker. One day they might want to paint. Another day they may be in the mood to draw or make jewelry. It's entirely up to them as to what they need in the moment. CHAP fills our colorful art carts full of every art supply you can imagine and rolls these carts down hospital halls and into playrooms and waiting rooms every week. If a child is in isolation or is not feeling well enough to join in, CHAP visits their room to see what supplies they would like, makes a personalized tray of what they have requested, and delivers it to their hospital bedside.

Medical environments can be places of significant anxiety, fear, and restlessness. CHAP’s art projects translate nervous energy into creativity, provide a sense of calm, and promote family connection and support in the midst of otherwise difficult times. Art changes the whole atmosphere of any room, providing parents and children with soothing activities that allow them to focus on beauty and creativity instead of anxiety. It can calm their nerves, pass the time, and occupy bored children -- making a better environment for everyone.

Research Findings: Children with critical and/or chronic illnesses and those with life-altering disabilities frequently experience pain, fear, depression, anxiety, and isolation. Critically ill children suffer from feelings of lack of control over their lives and the physical changes that often accompany critical illness, injury, or disability can be devastating. These children often lack the opportunity or ability to express their feelings and there are few opportunities for critically ill and disabled children to reflect on their journeys or be creative. The severe or chronic illness, injury, or disability of a child also takes an enormous toll on the entire family. Parents find themselves exhausted, siblings may feel neglected, and the entire family’s communication shifts to revolve around the needs of the sick child.

Art heals. A growing body of research demonstrates that incorporating arts experiences into healthcare and treatment plans can play an instrumental role in the healing process and improve overall quality of life and quality of care for children and their families. Research shows art promotes physical, mental and emotional recovery, decreases pain and helps children cope with anxiety. It can also reduce the use of pain medication. One study on the visual arts for children fighting cancer suggests that this art form is an effective way for children to cope with pain and help them regain a sense of control-- which is a key factor in reducing stress associated with cancer treatment. 

This research is so important because it supports what CHAP teaching artists see when they are facilitating art for children and their families. It's the healing power of art.

Links:

• CHAP Website