Name
Catherine St. James

Brain Tumor Type
Craniopharyngioma

Date of Diagnosis
08/11/05

Participant Group
Brain Tumor Survivor / 21 and over

Category
Creative Writing

Artist Statement (include type of art, techniques & materials used, what it means to you)
This writing was inspired by Elizabeth Bishop's poem titled "One Art." I remember reading her piece as a student in school and it struck a chord with me. Her clever way of describing different losses and how she navigated them reminded me of my own journey as a survivor. I chose to recreate her poem (and its repetition) in a way that pays homage to survivorship. We often think of the word "surviving" as something to be celebrated, but I wanted to write a more realistic perspective of what it means to survive a brain tumor. You experience every single emotion possible in the process. There are days that seem disastrous, but ultimately surviving doesn't have to be a disaster.

Artist Bio: Tell Us Your Story
My name is Catherine and I was diagnosed with a craniopharyngioma at 14 years old. This brain tumor really changed my life overnight, but I've never let it become me. When I'm not taking a mid-morning nap (thanks post-radiation fatigue!), I enjoy traveling, hiking, trivia, reading, writing, singing, and volunteering. A good sense of humor and knack for spelling has definitely been useful in my life.