Name
Kristn Vucina

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.
This was taking with a Canon Mark 5D iii and 35mm 1.4 L lens. Shot at f2.2, ISO 300, 1/320.

I adore this picture of my daughter! I love how it has a golden vibe and her curls are blowing in the wind. I love the blacked eyed susans, Maryland's state flower, that symbolize encouragement and motivation. I captured this at the end of summer, during the pandemic, and felt like it was the perfect symbol to help make it through this crazy time.

Please include your age, tumor type and date of diagnosis (patients & survivors only) and let us know how art has impacted your life.
My name is Kristin Vucina, 40, from Ellicott City, Maryland. My arachnoid brain cyst was first diagnosed in November 2016, though I suffered with issues from it for many years. It was finally properly diagnosed after I lost complete peripheral vision and had a MRI. It was 3cm and completing swishing my optic chasm and nerves. A few weeks later I underwent transnasal brain surgery at Johns Hopkins University to remove the cyst. Belly fat was used to help prevent the cyst from regrowing. I immediately regained my lost vision, but am now missing half a pituitary due to it being displaced by my large cyst for so long.

I have always loved photography and was motivated to become better at it after having my daughter in 2014 and wanting to document her life. Six months before I was diagnosed with my tumor, I took a manual DSRL photography course, so that I could completely control all aspects of my images. It was during this time that I really started to notice my vision loss, which my brain had been compensating for, for a long time. My biggest fear was losing my eyesight and not getting to see my daughter grow or document these special years. I am beyond grateful for surgery restoring my vision and life and allowing me to continue my photography passion. Six months after my surgery and delicate recovery, I began photographing other families and newborns. The joy in capturing these special time for families is priceless. I think that is part of why photography is my favorite form of art…capturing real, raw connections and fleeting moments that will last a lifetime is an amazing feeling. I heard of Art of Surviving through the Pituitary Tumor Support and Education group and am so happy to see and share my art with other survivors!