Physical Health United States Project #6748

Bring healing art to kids in medical crisis

by Children's Healing Art Project (CHAP)

Bring healing art to kids in medical crisis

Project Report | Apr 12, 2013
A moment in the life of a CHAP art teacher

By Chap Staff Wendi | Art Club and Hospital Teacher

I was in the Playroom when we all heard a child yelling very loudly from her room. She sounded like she was in agony. This child was yelling and crying so loud that everyone on the floor probably heard. All of us CHAP teachers wondered if the child was okay.

Her mom was in the Art Room and said, "It's my daughter and she's mad because she wants her IV out. She also has Autism". The mom looked exhausted as she smiled.

“Can I try to go in there and talk with her?” I asked.

Her mom was very appreciative and told me to go for it, but also gave me the look that seemed to say, 'Good Luck'.

I went into the little girl's room and she was still just screaming her little head off! I said hello and that I was from CHAP and that I had some clay for her. She was screaming so hard her eyes were closed! She also had two black eyes and a large laceration across her nose. She was still screaming. I then repeated myself and told her that her mom told me she was an artist. I told her that I was an artist too. The screaming grew quieter and quieter and finally she stopped. I told her that she could come to the CHAP studio and do some painting with me sometime. She squinted her eyes at me and asked in such a sweet voice, "What's your favorite color"?

I told her my favorite color was green. She shared that hers was red. I sat down on the floor with her squishing some red clay. We talked about her favorite things to make and what she would draw and paint when she comes to the CHAP studio. She said that she would draw a green-eyed tree frog! For those 15 minutes or so that I spent with her, she was able to relax. She could finally take her mind off of her IV and her time in her tiny hospital room, even if for a short time.

This is just one little story of what it is like to work as an Art Teacher at the hospital. It is not an easy job, but it is a wonderful job. I believe it is magical to bring the Healing Power of Art to Children and their families.

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