Day 10 — CAR-T Cell Therapy for MS: The Art of Giving Back 🎨
Small creations. Big meaning. The art of giving back from a hospital room full of light.”
Seeing Myself Again
It’s going to take time to rebuild my strength and routine, but this morning reminded me that healing isn’t just medical — it’s creative, emotional, human.
Creating to Give
I finished signing my pumpkins — each one a small, colorful reminder of hope — and packed them carefully into their box. Then I set out on my scooter down the hallway to deliver them to the people who have been helping me heal.
One went to Dr. Donato, who once saved Mayor Vergano’s life and is now helping to save mine. She and her team decided to keep the pumpkins, storing them away for next year alongside other artwork made by patients who find comfort in creating. Knowing that something I made will brighten someone else’s stay… that’s the best kind of medicine.
Art That Lives On
There’s something powerful about putting love into the world with your hands. You don’t have to say much — a brushstroke, a doodle, a handmade gift can say I see you. Every patient who’s left their mark on this wing has built a trail of beauty that others can follow. Today I became part of that story.
The Visit That Stopped Time
Later, Pat came by with Dusty, the therapy dog, for his first visit here. Dusty rested quietly in my room, and Pat handed me a small handmade gift — something her late mother had made to be passed on to patients who need comfort. I waited until sunset to open it. When the sun broke through the clouds, it felt like her mother was shining through — still giving, still comforting, through Pat’s hands.
Appreciation in Action
Today wasn’t about looking for something to be grateful for — it was about doing something with what I already have. Creativity, kindness, and the simple act of giving back turned this hospital floor into something more like home.
Healing isn’t just what’s happening to me — it’s what I get to share. 💛
