My project is a portrait of my patient and her story as a political advocate, mother, and leader. I was inspired by the work of Frida Kahlo and hoped to capture the vibrancy of my patient through both color and composition. My patient grew up in Florida in a bilingual household (Spanish and English) and takes pride in her social activism and role in supporting the Latin American community throughout her adult life. She has three biological children but was a mother to all the kids in the neighborhood who would stop in after school for baked goods and other treats.
My patient currently battles both breast cancer and hypertension in her daily life. Though she has lost the ability to walk and live independently, she has never lost her vitality. Her eyes sparkle and her youthful spirit can be seen from a mile away with her constant smile and electric blue streak in her hair. She texts me reminders to dance every day and radiates love to all that interact with her. I am grateful to have met such a force of nature and consider myself privileged to take her story with me as I continue my training at Duke.
About the Artist: Mason Seely
Within medicine, I am interested in understanding the brain, the most complex organ in the human body, and specifically I’m fascinated by the eye as an external window into neurological function. When I’m not studying, you can find me running, swimming, hiking, listening to NPR, painting, or reading. I’ve always had a passion for art so I was immediately drawn to the SCOPES program as an opportunity to explore and reflect on my experiences in patient care through alternative forms of media. In my mind, health is a combination of physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing all of which are balanced through a careful consideration and integration of liberal arts into medical practice. I like to dwell within the medical humanities as the intersection between these different components of healing.
