Name
Raine Azure

Brain Tumor Type
Craniopharyngioma

Date of Diagnosis
2/19/2020

Participant Group
Caregiver/Family Member

Category
Multimedia/2D/3D

Artist Statement (include type of art, techniques & materials used, what it means to you)
This piece means so much to me. It started with the inner image I created digitally. Representing a calm and focused person in contemplative meditation, with their internal workings weaving roots up and growing outward into new buds. The brain is alive and buzzing with ideas and potentials. The calm before the storm. The calm found in the eye of the hurricane. It represents my son, who has been bravely facing his Craniopharyngioma tumor since 2020.
The frame is made of the needle tips from my son’s Human Growth Hormone injections which he now takes daily. After conquering a huge phobia of needles, he is now easily taking the medicine he needs to help boost his endocrine system into growing taller. He has overcome his mind’s blocks with the “what-ifs” and all the fears, and opened up to a new chapter, one where he is taking more control over at least a part of his diagnosis’ side effects. The needle tips show how much strength he has gained on this leg of his brain tumor journey. We postponed taking the growth hormone for quite a while due to his feelings about the injections. And here we are, only a few months in and he’s already grown one inch! The frame of tips represents the foundation of trust he’s surrounded by… and I am beyond proud.

Artist Bio: Tell Us Your Story
I’m blessed to be the mother of an incredible human who was diagnosed with a very rare and very hard to treat tumor just before Covid shook all our worlds. At 9 years old he faced surgeries, radiation, endless blood draws, MRIs, prescriptions and appointments… while his friends were playing Pokémon and boogie boarding at the beach.
His tenacity for life aided his incredibly speedy recovery. Though there is always a battle to be had, at 13.5 he now faces them all head on.
He’s a musical wonder to behold, and reads novels at lightening speed. He writes in cursive and loves extra spicy foods. His little sister, father, grandparents, Ohana and friends are all so lucky to have him in our world. Ushering him into adulthood is a great honor. I find myself worrying less about his future and staying more in the present moment, enjoying the life we have and accepting the challenges along side him. Being a pillar he can always lean on. It’s not always easy to carry the weight of the unknown future your child faces, keeping the home cozy and the memories beautiful as possible is all I can do sometimes. I do my best for him.