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Reflections |
"This Is Not a Dress Rehearsal," by Anne Wilson of Morganton, North Carolina, was named Best of the United States in the 2006 competition. The photograph features Wilson's late daughter Katherine just seven months after Katherine, a nonsmoker, was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer at the age of 23. The photograph portrays a smiling Katherine and her dad playfully removing their hats to display their bald heads—Katherine's from her cancer treatments and her dad's a result of his sympathetic shaving. "Katherine's cancer diagnosis changed our family in unexpected ways," said Wilson. "From the earliest days, Katherine proved she would not let this disease negatively impact the rest of her life. She always felt that life was for living and you only had one chance at it. The photograph shows how much she believed that—even in those early days after learning about her diagnosis." Following her diagnosis, Katherine not only earned her nursing degree from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill School of Nursing but was also inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, the international nursing honor society. In addition, Katherine traveled extensively with friends and family who considered her an inspiration. In February 2005, Katherine succumbed to her illness, five years after diagnosis, at the age of 28.
The judging panel awarded second place in the U.S. competition to JoAnn Coleman of Baltimore, Maryland, for her photograph, "Tranquility." Coleman has been a nurse at the Johns Hopkins Hospital's Department of Surgery since 1974 and now serves as coordinator of the Multidisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Clinic at The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. "Tranquility" shows a serene fountain in Hawaii containing water lilies with a reflection of a Japanese tea house. Coleman took the photograph while in Hawaii for a nursing conference. "The photograph reminds me of how we treat patients when they go into surgery for the removal of cancerous tumors," said Coleman. "We should accept and respect patients as they journey through the cancer experience."
Third place was awarded to Isabel Quiñones-Martin of San Juan, Puerto Rico, for her acrylic painting, titled "Embrace Life." Quiñones-Martin, who has lost many loved ones to cancer, was inspired by her friend's positive outlook following her cancer diagnosis. "The painting shows my friend who decided to embrace life," said Quiñones-Martin. "After learning she had cancer she first thought her days were numbered, but the painting shows how she looked out at the world and decided to keep her spirit strong."
The Oncologist's Executive Editor, Dr. Martin J. Murphy, Jr., served as a judge for the competition. The Journal is pleased to publish the 2006 winning entries in the U.S. competition and their corresponding narratives, as provided by the artists.
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FIRST PLACE |
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 Top FIRST PLACE SECOND PLACETHIRD PLACE |
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Anne Wilson
Morganton, North Carolina
Our precious daughter felt strongly about these words from an early age. It was as if she knew something the rest of us did not know. When Katherine was diagnosed at age 23 with small cell lung cancer, she continued to remember these words. Through almost 5 years of radiation and chemotherapy for six recurrences, Katherine continued making the best of every moment possible—skiing with her brothers in Colorado, cruising the Mediterranean and traveling through France with childhood friends, snorkeling in Maho Bay with her boyfriend, being a bridesmaid in her dear friend's wedding, speaking at a luncheon for the cancer center where she received her treatment, having a scholarship started in her honor, all the while taking one class at a time as she worked to achieve her goal of graduating from the UNC-CH School of Nursing. Katherine graduated in May 2004, a few months before she lost her courageous battle. She knew this was not the dress rehearsal.
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SECOND PLACE |
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TopFIRST PLACESECOND PLACETHIRD PLACE |
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JoAnn Coleman
Baltimore, Maryland
Patients faced with the challenges of cancer experience the gamut of emotions that reflect the mood of the ocean from peaceful laps of waves at the shore to waves of tumultuous, rolling fury. I care for patients with pancreatic cancer and follow their journey along the continuum of care. I see the complex and ever-changing combination of physical, sensual, and spiritual elements encountered by these patients and their families/significant others.
This photo of a Japanese tea house reflected in a pond of elegant purple water lilies represents my philosophy of trying to create an aura of tranquility for my patients and their families/significant others. The lovely purple water lilies are a reminder of patients who have pancreatic cancer attempting to maintain harmony but always with a ripple of the reminder of the unknown that may be encountered in their cancer journey. My patients have taught me to respect the human qualities of sensitivity, awareness, respect, and communication which are also those behaviors reflected in the ancient and elegant tradition of the Japanese tea ceremony.
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THIRD PLACE |
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TopFIRST PLACESECOND PLACETHIRD PLACE |
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Isabel Quiñones-Martin
San Juan, Puerto Rico
In 1996 my father died of pancreatic cancer.
In 1997 my mother was a victim of ovarian cancer; detection and death were only 20 days apart. We were all devastated. We knew (learned) that cancer detection was your death sentence.
This is my friend Lucy. This year she was diagnosed with lymphoma and we thought her days were counted; not so. She decided to embrace life. Her lessons for positive living have been countless. Her strong spirit is boundless. There is hope (life) after diagnosis. Embrace Life!
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