CMLer's portofolio - Chronic Myeloid Leukemia - CML
Christiane from Brussels
My name is Christiane and I am now 57 years old (in 2011). Chronic leukemia and I shared a long history for 18 years. I was a little over 38 years old when I was diagnosed with CML. This was a huge shock for my family and myself. At the time (March 1993 ), I thought that I will never know the end of the year nor my grandchildren. With the drugs (Interferon, Hydrea) and then with the chemos of February / March 1996, my life was extended from year to year. My spouse, my family and medical circle, enabled me to keep morale high.
After I went to the Bordet Institute in Brussels during 1996, for an autologous stem cell transplant that finally was not realized, I became interested in oil painting. I paint surrealist paintings like the Belgian painter René Magritte. Currently, I attend an artists' studio located at the Abbaye de Forest (Brussels). In 2001, the drug Glivec appeared during my existence and on the market. It relieved me more - with fewer side effects compared to Hydrea - and after a few years I have enjoyed a long period of almost 3 years without too many health concerns. In August 2009, I started to swallow my daily Tasigna capsules, another advance in the therapeutic field.
I have 3 grandchildren who fulfill my existence. The eldest is 7 years old. I am happy to be alive despite the hardships of life. Briefly, I hope that my story can encourage those who are saddened from being ill, having leukemia or another cancer.
My name is Christiane and I am now 57 years old (in 2011). Chronic leukemia and I shared a long history for 18 years. I was a little over 38 years old when I was diagnosed with CML. This was a huge shock for my family and myself. At the time (March 1993 ), I thought that I will never know the end of the year nor my grandchildren. With the drugs (Interferon, Hydrea) and then with the chemos of February / March 1996, my life was extended from year to year. My spouse, my family and medical circle, enabled me to keep morale high.
After I went to the Bordet Institute in Brussels during 1996, for an autologous stem cell transplant that finally was not realized, I became interested in oil painting. I paint surrealist paintings like the Belgian painter René Magritte. Currently, I attend an artists' studio located at the Abbaye de Forest (Brussels). In 2001, the drug Glivec appeared during my existence and on the market. It relieved me more - with fewer side effects compared to Hydrea - and after a few years I have enjoyed a long period of almost 3 years without too many health concerns. In August 2009, I started to swallow my daily Tasigna capsules, another advance in the therapeutic field.
I have 3 grandchildren who fulfill my existence. The eldest is 7 years old. I am happy to be alive despite the hardships of life. Briefly, I hope that my story can encourage those who are saddened from being ill, having leukemia or another cancer.
Rita from Montreal
In 2002, I was diagnosed with CML. It was suggested to me that I start my healing process through art expression from the unconscious wound which was a way of getting to know myself and work on my mind/body connection. This might help me discover my ‘unconscious wound’ to start my healing process. I started to create Mandalas as a form of art journaling.
Thus, the journey to my unconscious wound began. With a guided meditation to get in touch with the feelings in my body, mind and soul, I began my Mandala. Once that was completed, I would concentrate while staring at it, listening for what came up through my emotions. My main objectives were to see what it was in what shapes and colors I had used to create it with that would help me learn more about myself. I would immediately write down what came up … simply jotting down one or two words. Art therapy gave me the time to create and connect with my inner self and have a dialogue with it. Sometimes, the unconscious wound was so painful that I couldn’t go any further in trying to find out what it was.
Some of the feelings and thoughts that arose helped me to explore and connect with some of the deeper essences of myself. I felt a lot of unexpressed creativity, which came up as anger, abandonment, self-sabotage, rejection, unloved, and unsupported. I had lost my ability to set my own boundaries. As I continued my art journey, I began to feel better and became aware of my inner strength. I slowly got into remission (of course, chemo helped).
Doing these simple Mandalas at home on a daily basis and writing in my diary is a very powerful tool. I had the sudden urge to express myself at another level in art. I started art classes. The theme was always a flower or as I call it a ‘healing flower’ with the intention to cause peace, love and health in the World. My first flower is entitled ‘Unconscious Healing
Because I am a professional astrologer, I started to get visions on painting the zodiac signs in abstract style while at art school with Susan Nimbley, https://www.artdesrapides.com/. This eventually developed into another kind of art.
I started to paint from my innate intelligence. I use kinesiology muscle testing technique to guide myself in the choices of color and movement into form. My medium is simple: art ink, alcohol and an instrument to blow the liquid around – an air pump, air can or straw. Every art piece energy is prepared preparing using the free form neurograpic lines. The art is an original and is designed to connect with humanity’s innate intelligence and make a difference in our DNA reprogramming to our original source.
My chemotherapy process started in 2002 with Gleevic which was unbearable. When Sprycel was on the market I was part of the 2 year trial and reached PCRU as soon as possible. The doses were adjusted along the way. However, the side effects of pleural effusion required my left lung being drained twice and is damaged having lost 1/3 of its use and eventually having AFib heart issues requiring a pacemaker and ablation. After being on Sprycel for 15 years and now 81, I am TKI free since 2024 under close supervision. My life is comfortable.
I create healing workshops using what I learnt so show how one can create beautiful art expressing their inner power and connect to their highest inner source innate self.
Thus, the journey to my unconscious wound began. With a guided meditation to get in touch with the feelings in my body, mind and soul, I began my Mandala. Once that was completed, I would concentrate while staring at it, listening for what came up through my emotions. My main objectives were to see what it was in what shapes and colors I had used to create it with that would help me learn more about myself. I would immediately write down what came up … simply jotting down one or two words. Art therapy gave me the time to create and connect with my inner self and have a dialogue with it. Sometimes, the unconscious wound was so painful that I couldn’t go any further in trying to find out what it was.
Some of the feelings and thoughts that arose helped me to explore and connect with some of the deeper essences of myself. I felt a lot of unexpressed creativity, which came up as anger, abandonment, self-sabotage, rejection, unloved, and unsupported. I had lost my ability to set my own boundaries. As I continued my art journey, I began to feel better and became aware of my inner strength. I slowly got into remission (of course, chemo helped).
Doing these simple Mandalas at home on a daily basis and writing in my diary is a very powerful tool. I had the sudden urge to express myself at another level in art. I started art classes. The theme was always a flower or as I call it a ‘healing flower’ with the intention to cause peace, love and health in the World. My first flower is entitled ‘Unconscious Healing
Because I am a professional astrologer, I started to get visions on painting the zodiac signs in abstract style while at art school with Susan Nimbley, https://www.artdesrapides.com/. This eventually developed into another kind of art.
I started to paint from my innate intelligence. I use kinesiology muscle testing technique to guide myself in the choices of color and movement into form. My medium is simple: art ink, alcohol and an instrument to blow the liquid around – an air pump, air can or straw. Every art piece energy is prepared preparing using the free form neurograpic lines. The art is an original and is designed to connect with humanity’s innate intelligence and make a difference in our DNA reprogramming to our original source.
My chemotherapy process started in 2002 with Gleevic which was unbearable. When Sprycel was on the market I was part of the 2 year trial and reached PCRU as soon as possible. The doses were adjusted along the way. However, the side effects of pleural effusion required my left lung being drained twice and is damaged having lost 1/3 of its use and eventually having AFib heart issues requiring a pacemaker and ablation. After being on Sprycel for 15 years and now 81, I am TKI free since 2024 under close supervision. My life is comfortable.
I create healing workshops using what I learnt so show how one can create beautiful art expressing their inner power and connect to their highest inner source innate self.
Others artists
Scene in Edmonds: The Edsel Hermoso Moscoso Mural (Donation to Max Foundation)
February 9, 2013, My Edmonds News
Artist Spotlight: Clara Berta on Finding Joy Within the Work
2020, ARTWORK ARCHIVE
Art abstract art therapy. Healing art
December 24, 2010, fungames4kids
