AS (When we see too much)
As with any post that relates to my hospice work - in order to not get anywhere close to violating HIPPA - I keep information about patient-related art to a bare minimum. This self portrait is a reaction to a very difficult patient situation, with the tubes representing the visuals that go into our eyes.
All the tubing used here was picked up personally after patients passed away to help families dispose of unneeded extra supplies. As even sealed tubing cannot be given to another patient, I used some of this tubing to create this portrait. I have since (through one of the other hospice chaplains I work with) found a place in Minneapolis/St.Paul called Mano a Mano that takes these kinds of supplies as donations and send them around the world.
New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital Perinatal Bereavement Tree #2 - Amara's Tree (24" Tall)
Please take some time to read about Amara and some of the amazing things she was involved in here, here, and here. A Google Search for Amara will produce many more results. Amara was a musician, artist, activist, daughter, sister, and friend, who packed an entire lifetime into 20 way too short years. I believe she will continue to create great things in the Kingdom of Heaven.