Art in Medicine Project from 2005 - End of Life Care - "Holding Hands"

Nicholas Wong
Class of 2006
Holding Hands
Digital Photograph

When we are born, we instinctively wrap our tiny fingers around anything that tickles our palms. We are programmed to clutch onto our caregivers and hold on for dear life. As toddlers, we hold on to supporting hands as we take our first steps. As children, we are taught to hold hands crossing streets, to hold hands when going through crowds, to hold hands so as not to get lost. As teenagers and young adults, one of the milestones of any relationship is that first moment when your hands meet, and you realize you never want to let go – there’s a connection. When we propose, we get down on one knee, hold the hand of the person we hope is our soon to be fiancé, and ask for his/her hand in marriage. After we exchange our vows, we exit the church holding hands, now as husband and wife. We become parents, and our hands are those which our newborns instinctively grasp, our toddlers hold for support, and our children hold crossing streets. At the end of our time on this earth, what could be more comforting than having our hand held as we cross from this world into the next?

Art in Medicine Project from 2004 - Eating Disorders - "Shadows and Dust"

Shadows and Dust
“I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.”
- Anne Frank


Beautiful Smile.
Radiant Person.
Enlightened Soul.

Her essence permeates my being –
She later reveals –
Recovering from an eating disorder.
So often missed –
Had she not told me,
I would never have known.

I see three faces –
Each a shadow –
Remnants.
I see the face she shows the world –
Bright,
Glowing,
Flushed.
I see the face she hides –
Binging,
Purging,
Starving.
I see the face that appears when confronted –
Angry,
Stubborn –
“I’m fine.”

–Surprise–
A face unseen –
Masked by brilliance.
Sad,
Lonely,
Hurt.
Wishing –
For love,
For support,
For happiness.

My Prayer –
Let someone focus past the shadows –
Secretly shy,
Silently sad,
ashamed.
Help her Heal.

May it be –
Calm after the storm.
Renewed Faith –
Rebirth –
Pink Perfect Joy.

Beautiful Smile.
Radiant Person.
Enlightened Soul.

By Nicholas Wong
Class of 2006

Art in Medicine Project from 2003 - Osteoporosis - "Innocence vs. Ignorence"

Nicholas Wong
Class of 2006
Holding Hands
Digital Photograph

When we are born, we instinctively wrap our tiny fingers around anything that tickles our palms. We are programmed to clutch onto our caregivers and hold on for dear life. As toddlers, we hold on to supporting hands as we take our first steps. As children, we are taught to hold hands crossing streets, to hold hands when going through crowds, to hold hands so as not to get lost. As teenagers and young adults, one of the milestones of any relationship is that first moment when your hands meet, and you realize you never want to let go – there’s a connection. When we propose, we get down on one knee, hold the hand of the person we hope is our soon to be fiancé, and ask for his/her hand in marriage. After we exchange our vows, we exit the church holding hands, now as husband and wife. We become parents, and our hands are those which our newborns instinctively grasp, our toddlers hold for support, and our children hold crossing streets. At the end of our time on this earth, what could be more comforting than having our hand held as we cross from this world into the next?

Medical Post

Attached is what the Medical Post has to say about Art in Medicine!

Intro

Hello All,

This is my Art in Medicine Blog, to post my art projects from Dalhousie Medical School, although who knows where it will go in future!