Through my work at the Caring House, I’ve met people from all over the country, each with a story that’s entirely their own. What connects them is their shared fight with cancer. Sitting with patients, I’ve gained insight into life, received unforgettable advice, and listened to some truly wild stories. Most of our conversations held around the art workshop table are filled with lighthearted anecdotes, but there’s always something unspoken lingering in the background. Cancer is what brought everyone here, it doesn’t pick and choose, and it affects people from all walks of life. And yet, within the Caring House community even the hardest conversations feel natural. There is safety in the community where honesty and vulnerability aren’t rare, but anticipated with open arms and open hearts. Many of the people who attend the art workshops are artists themselves staying at the Caring House as patients or caregivers. Learning about how art has helped them through their hardest moments has been incredibly inspiring and powerful. Others have shared how different outlets like farm work, or reading have carried them through. Every story has shown me new ways people find strength, and how creativity can emerge even in the most difficult time.
