HEALTH
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Robin Marcum, left, holds the painting she created to express the phases of her treatment for lung cancer. Her daughter, Elizabeth, describes her painting in the essay (see below).
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Art of survival
An exhibit opening today at Kapolei Hale captures the emotions of cancer patients and families
When Elizabeth "Lizzie" Marcum learned that her mother had cancer, she went to work creating a special gift.
'Oncology on Canvas'
On view: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, today through May 29, Kapolei Hale Courtyard
Admission: Free
Closing reception: 5 to 7 p.m. May 29
Call: 523-4674
Next stop: June 23 to 27, Honolulu Hale; opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. June 23
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"I had beads and made her a bracelet," Elizabeth said. "I used all of the colors of the rainbow. My mom was going to wear the bracelet until she was cancer-free. Or if she died, she would be buried with it."
The news came just before Christmas last year.
"I was worried that this was going to be my last Christmas," said Robin Marcum, who was diagnosed with Stage 3 lung cancer. "I've learned a lot about compassion. This was a hard fight."
The entire family was affected -- 12-year-old Elizabeth, Robin's two other children and her husband, Jim.
"I was supposed to deploy to Iraq, but instead I've been here playing Mr. Mom," Jim said. The treatments wiped Robin out, allowing her to get up for just a couple hours a day, or not at all, he explained.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Mike Culkin, 75, whose lung cancer is in remission, shows a drawing done by his daughter.
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Still, Robin said, "I didn't let it get me down. I wasn't going to make everyone miserable. If I were alone, I'd dwell on it for a while, sometimes worry. But I was determined to be happy and live life to the fullest."
But because it's so difficult to describe the cancer experience in words, Robin and Elizabeth decided to participate in the "Oncology on Canvas" project offered in hospitals throughout Oahu.
ESSAY
'My Mom and Her Cancer'
By Elizabeth "Lizzie" Marcum, age 12
"This is a picture of my mom, and she is crying tears. The red drops are drops of blood because cancer is so painful. She had to do XRT (external radiation therapy) almost every day of the week plus chemo and surgery. The sword is for Mom fighting the cancer. The red on the two sides is the blood that was taken away -- you know, she had a needle in her arm. The blue on the bottom is an ocean of tears because she is so happy that she is free from cancer now."
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"The art was an expression," said Robin. "It showed the way I felt ... how I went to the hospital nearly every day and had lots of procedures." Her piece entitled "The Scrapper" demonstrates the treatments she has endured.
Elizabeth created her own artwork, "My Mom and Her Cancer," which shares both the pain of the procedures and the joy of defeating the disease.
The Oncology Nursing Society has collected works by families such as the Markums in a display to be shown at Kapolei Hale beginning today.
The works reflect each participant's cancer experience and come from patients at various Oahu hospitals, including Tripler Army Medical Center, where Robin is being treated. A short story accompanies each piece.
"Painting is very expressive," Robin said. "We were both able to express ourselves ... and what things meant to us."
As for Elizabeth's other art project, the beaded bracelet, Robin has been able to take it off. The last panel in her painting denotes the letters "NSD" -- no signs of disease, Robin said: "We jumped for joy."
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Cancer patient Irwin Escorpesa, above left, and her husband, Donny, both created pieces for "Oncology on Canvas."
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Art offers cancer patients an outlet to express emotions
Hanging out at the beach, making trips to the zoo -- these are no longer options for the Lizalde family, not since 2-year-old Diego was diagnosed with leukemia.
"We were stuck inside all the time," said Diego's mother, Edith. "We can't go into heavily trafficked public areas. It's challenging to find different things for him to do."
For four months Edith Lizalde and her husband, Trinity, lived with Diego at Tripler Army Medical Center's Fisher House, a residence for families facing serious illness.
The family has learned to use art as an outlet, from decorating their lanai with colored chalk, graffiti style, to simple finger-painting. "With art he has no boundaries, no limits," Edith said.
Art provides the family with a chance to have fun together even when Diego needs to stay home because his blood counts are so low, Edith explained. Crayons, buckets of chalk, finger paints and colored pencils are among their investments: "I'm looking for an easel. For now we just put a sheet down."
COURTESY EDITH LIZALDE
Diego Lizalde and his father, Trinity, work on a painting together. Their work is being shown in an exhibit for the program "Oncology on Canvas."
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The Lizaldes were able to extend this interest beyond their home through the "Oncology on Canvas" program, designed to allow cancer patients, their families and friends a nonverbal means of expressing feelings and experiences.
"It was more than I expected," said Trinity, who worked on a painting with his son. "I expected it to be like a kindergarten art fair. I was moved by lots of people -- everyone had their own story."
"He (Diego) was really focused. When he got bored, I filled in all the blank spots. I added a guitar because he is in love with guitars," Trinity said.
"We really had a blast that day," Edith added. "Diego had so much fun. He was charming people left and right."
COURTESY EDITH LIZALDE
Trinity Lizalde added a guitar to his son Diego's painting to represent one of the boy's favorite things.
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The local "Oncology on Canvas" program has more than 200 participants at six Oahu hospitals. It was modeled on an art competition founded by the pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly & Co. for those affected by cancer.
"We wanted an opportunity for patients and their families to use art to express what they are going through," explained Dr. Patricia Nishimoto, adult oncology clinical nurse specialist at Tripler. "The result was so powerful, it was mind-blowing."
The program was designed for women with breast cancer, she said: "Other patients wanted to get involved, and we opened it up to families. Magic has happened at every hospital."
The works created by the patients and their families will be displayed at Kapolei Hale this month, moving to Honolulu Hale for a one-week stint in June. Stories will be displayed alongside the artwork, depicting each artist's story.
"We wanted to help our patients and their families to talk about things that cannot be put into words," Nishimoto said. "Families can become closer together. People can see that it's not the end of the world ... see how these people have become survivors, and not be so afraid of cancer."
To participate in "Oncology on Canvas," visit hawaii.vc.ons.org or consult a local oncology nurse.