I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in March 2018 and had a bone marrow transplant in February 2019. During 2018 while I was receiving a chemotherapy treatment, the lady from the cancer support center who runs painting sessions was sharing painting supplies with those of us getting infusions. This is the style she taught me. I enjoyed making it, but didn&rsquo;t give much thought to keeping the painting. My wife kept it, framed it and hung it in our home. When I see the painting, it brings a smile to my face as I think of the woman from the support center bringing smiles to others during a stressful time. God bless her.

I hadn&#39;t painted at all since my surgery in November -- I just didn&#39;t have the heart for it. After doing a couple of small paintings of my horses, I decided I wanted to have a visual memory of this point in my cancer journey. This portrait is one of determination, hope, and strength.

Facing Cancer With Hope

In the 1976 book &ldquo;First, You Cry,&rdquo; 39-year-old NBC News correspondent Betty Rollin candidly described the &ldquo;swift kick life had just given in the form of breast cancer.&rdquo; Five years later, she reflected, &ldquo;Although cancer was the worst thing that ever happened to me, it was also the best&hellip; Today I feel that losing a breast saved my life, and wasn&rsquo;t I lucky. And when I think of all the other good things that have come from that loss, I just look at that flat place on my body and think: Small price.&rdquo; 
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As I reach the fifth anniversary of my own mastectomy, Betty Rollin inspires me to reflect on all the good things that have come from that loss. My daughter-in-law, Nicole Sundquist, captures my grateful heart in her painting of me, titled &ldquo;Small Price.&rdquo; The piece is oil on canvas. &mdash; Barbra Ely 
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Chemo Flowers

By James Matthews

March 13th, 2020

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