I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing like being in a room full of cancer survivors. There is an aura of emotional courage and camaraderie which is unmistakable. During last Saturday’s Survivorship Symposium hosted by Morristown Memorial Medical Center, I had an especially meaningful experience which had to do with “cancer scar stories.”
During the Art and Music Therapy program, facilitators Maria Lupo, MFA, MA-ATR, and Leah Oswanski, LAC, MT-BC, led us through an exercise of drawing to music. My friend Lockey and I were sitting together and, like so many other adults, we didn’t relish the opportunity to draw.
I guess we were embarrassed, which led her to say all she wanted was a cup of tea. So, I drew her one and we were off. I was drawing nothing major (food, a sofa -we’re redecorating her house), when she suddenly put crayon to paper and started drawing her cancer scars. I joined her and we put together a collection of our individual scars on her piece of paper.
Earlier in the program, Melanie Davis, EdD, CSW, spoke about “Sexuality and Body Image” and how we all have “scar stories.” Lockey has no idea why she started drawing those scars, but we shared our “scar stories” through that drawing and it was liberating!
Looking back I am amazed that there was no self-pity, only a lot of laughter. My scars truly didn’t bother me at that moment. All I wanted to do was laugh about them with someone who shared the same experience and give her a big hug for being there with me. So, put on soothing music, get a big piece of paper and start drawing. I’d love to see your Map of the Scars and learn how it liberated you!
Survival > Existence,
Related Posts:
Cancer Survivor Friendship and Laughter
What’s the Real Story Behind Your Cancer Scars?
Where We Go Now 
Comments
Drawing rocks!
I’m so glad drawing helped you get in touch with something you were feeling! It’s a wonderful tool, a way to get at a different part of your brain than usual.
Plano & Simple
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Thanks!
It’s so funny how that drawing opened us up to a discussion about our scars. It was surprising and touching. I guess those art therapists really know what they are doing!
Map of Scars….
Great story. If I wasn’t sitting with a good friend who went through similar circumstances, I would not have been so self-expressed, thank you friend!!
Who Thought We Could Draw?
You’re welcome and thank you! That was an amazing moment – one of many which have bonded us together as cancer survivors, but more importantly as friends!