Bring healing art to kids in medical crisis

At CHAP’s annual Art Camp, two teenage girls of the same age, both confined to wheelchairs meet and greet for the first time. While making art, their friendship takes off like they have known each other for a lifetime.  They begin to giggle about boys, talk about fashion, preferred colors of nail polish, what music they like, schools they attend, movies and the best pizza in town.  They assist each other in getting materials and talk about ideas.  Their disabilities disappear.

The first two days were full of painting, glittering, beading and mask making, followed by shortstop action videos the next.  This is where I overheard, the now best friends, talk about the bullying they experienced in their lives.  It wasn’t an occasional thing, but a daily harassment that kept them feeling connected to the peers around them.  They commiserate with one another and one begins to cry.  She talked about the cruelty and how it impacted her daily life.  One example she shared was that she was unable to go to the bathroom in a public place without the assistance of her mother or caretaker for fear of ridicule.  Her new friend was quick to respond with love and compassion assuring her that she would find a way.

On the fourth day of camp, a miracle of sorts occurred.   The young woman who had cried the day before came in with a newly found confidence that we hadn’t seen in the preceding days. Whether direct or indirect, the connections made while making of art can heal the deepest of wounds.  What we experienced that week will impact each of us for the rest of our lives.