Spark Joy: Healing Through Art: A Heartwarming Collaboration Between Presentation Parish School and St. Joseph’s Cancer Institute

In a quiet yet impactful partnership, Presentation Parish School has been brightening patients’ days at the St. Joseph’s Medical Center Cancer Institute for the past four years. The collaboration, sparked by Griselda Olivas, St. Joseph’s breast nurse navigator, RN, CN-BN, and a love for her community, has grown into a tradition that encourages both creativity and healing for both cancer patients and students.

The partnership started in 2020 when Griselda approached Presentation Parish School, the school her grandchildren attended, with the idea of displaying students’ artwork in her workplace, St. Joseph’s Cancer Institute. When you walk through the doors of the Cancer Institute, you feel a sense of peace, with a calming fish tank, seasonal decorations and music playing throughout the lobby. Griselda wanted to bring a touch of fun, warmth and hope to the Cancer Institute by displaying art created by local children. Presentation’s school principal, Maria Amen, jumped at the opportunity, and since then, a wall in the waiting room of St. Joseph’s Cancer Institute has been decorated with vibrant, heartfelt pieces created by children ranging from kindergarten through eighth grade.

The students’ artwork, which changes every two to three months, reflects the various seasons and holidays. Fall art brings colorful leaves and pumpkins, while winter art shows drawings of snowflakes and Christmas trees. The students know their artwork is being displayed for cancer patients, and you can see the love and effort the students put into each piece. St. Joseph’s staff visited Mrs. Wright’s eighth-grade class while they created new art for the waiting area. The theme for the season is watercolors, with each student writing a motivational message for patients inspired by leaders. Kaylee, a student in Mrs. Wright’s class, painted an image of a beach; she shared, “I feel happy and hopeful that my art lets them see hope, and the beach can make them feel like they are on vacation.” Cancer hits close to home for some. “I feel proud doing this, and I know my dad would be proud. He had cancer, he’s better now,” Luca shared. Images of serene landscapes, abstract shapes and colors filled the room as students painted for patients.

One significant helper of the project is Ashton, Griselda’s grandson, an eighth grader in Mrs. Wright’s class. Ashton helps his grandmother by bringing the art to the Cancer Institute and assisting in putting it up. Over the years, Ashton has gotten joy out of seeing his younger schoolmates’ art and likes to give patients hope to
keep going.

The impact of art in a healthcare setting has many scientific benefits. The World Health Organization reports, “Art can help us to emotionally navigate the journey of battling an illness or injury, to process difficult emotions in times of emergency and challenging events. The creation and enjoyment of the arts helps promote holistic wellness and can be a motivating factor in recovery.” St. Joseph’s patients say it brings them solace, peace and hope. “It’s been a rewarding experience for me because I feel this adds to the healing of my patients,” shared Griselda. The staff at the Cancer Institute also find the art, with its cheerful and nostalgic themes, uplifting.
While the current art resides in one waiting area of the Cancer Institute, there are hopes of expanding. Griselda envisions the possibility of extending the displays to other areas including treatment rooms and their entryway so even more patients can experience the joy these artworks bring. As the years continue, it will undoubtedly touch the lives of even more patients, proving that sometimes the simplest gestures can make a difference in someone’s day.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, call our cancer patient navigator at (209) 969-4526. Nurse navigators like Griselda can help answer your questions, develop a personalized plan of action and connect you to additional resources, information and support.

For more information on St. Joseph’s Cancer Institute, please visit dignityhealth.org/stockton/cancercare.