Name
Elise Rosati

Age Group (If you are a caregiver/family member please check Caregiver/Family Member)
Adult: 21 and over

Describe your art here - type of art, techniques and materials used, what your art represents and what it means to you.
Art, specifically poetry, has allowed me to voice my feelings when my world is collapsing around me. There are often times where I get really frustrated with myself and because of my lack of cortisol often end up in tears or exhausted, and feel like it’s too much to have to explain anything, to others, or to myself, so I’ll type up a poem or write in my notes app on my phone, or in a notebook about whatever I’m dealing with (mainly for myself) as an outlet. Whenever I’m struggling with the side effects of my tumor and stroke, I write, because it is easier for me, putting a pen to paper to express my feelings, rather than to voice them myself. Photography has also been something that has allowed me to help people see the world through my eyes, and through the eyes of a survivor, and has challenged me to do so in every picture I take.

Please include your age, tumor type and date of diagnosis (patients & survivors only) and let us know how art has impacted your life.
Elise Rosati is a 24-year-old graduate student in recreational therapy at Temple University. She is also a teacher's aide at Beeler Elementary school, where she loves working with her 3rd & 4th-grade students. She loves writing poetry and short stories, as well as reading. She loves photography and scrapbooking. She also enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her pets.
Elise was diagnosed with a Craniopharyngioma at the age of 11 in April of 2008, and had a stroke affecting her left side during the surgery to remove it. She aspires to become a child life specialist at a children’s hospital, and is currently working on pursuing this goal.
It was after reading her grandfather’s poems that Elise found an interest in writing poetry. Writing poetry continues to be an outlet for her after her surgery to voice her struggles with life after brain injury.
“Growing up, my life revolved around playing sports, so when my brain surgeon told me I could no longer play on a sports team, my life was shattered. I struggled to find new hobbies and interests to fill my time. I turned to activities such as scrapbooking, photography, and crafts, as well as writing poetry. Since then, whenever I’m struggling with the side effects of my tumor and stroke, I write, because it is easier for me, putting a pen to paper to express my feelings, rather than to voice them myself.”