Name
Vicky Lee

Age Group (If you are a caregiver/family member please check Caregiver/Family Member)
Caregiver/Family Member

Artist Statement (include type of art, techniques & materials used, what it means to you)
This is an acrylic on canvas painting. I've always admired California Poppies. To me, they are the most beautiful wildflower and no matter how hard you try to get rid of them they will always come back more brilliant and full. They symbolize many different things such as hope, peace, sleep, and death. The feelings that are invoked when my son was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2014. Since then every re-occurrence brings fear of death, then as he recovers, I feel hope and peace until the next MRI (scanxiety). During grief, I tend to just want to sleep. The meaning of the poppy represents all that I feel and the beauty of this wild flower reminds me of my beautiful boy.

Bio (include your age, tumor type and date of diagnosis)
I'm the mother and main caregiver of my eleven-year-old son, Benjamin. He was diagnosed in 2014, 2016, and again in 2020. He's undergone four brain surgeries in his life. His diagnosis is Anaplastic Ependymoma Grade III Rela positive.
Thank you so much for allowing me to share my work and story.