I am the mum of thirteen year olds twins, a physician, and for the past five years, a person living with an extreme rare cancer. I crisscrossed the country frequently, and had to go out of country, to access my highly specialized essential cancer care. Being closer to that care was the reason that we recently uprooted our lives in Alberta and moved to Ontario. I have spent decades exploring our incredible and diverse world, and have lived and worked in seven countries, including Canada. I have always liked creating things, and especially now, being unable to practise my profession, my creative projects are vital for self nurturing, and the well-being of both me and my children.

As a physician and a cancer patient, I have had two significant roles in the healthcare system. I much preferred the first! The mixed media pieces that I have presented are pages from my creative journals. I started creative journalling in the Expressive Arts Programme at Wellspring Calgary, an amazing privately funded Cancer support programme in Alberta. I believe that compassion, kindness, respectful curiosity and competence are among the most important virtues of a decent healthcare system and the people within it.