Siteman Patient Makes Her Squares Matter
An ovarian cancer diagnosis didn''t stop Judi Bolton. In fact, she''s helping others struggling with cancer work through difficult emotions.
"I spent the first couple of days crying," recalls Bolton, 58, of Troy, IL of her initial diagnosis in April 1999. "Soon enough I realized support groups are so important to be a part of when you''re going through cancer."
After finishing treatment at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine four years ago, Bolton is giving back. Through her efforts, patients at Siteman have a unique kind of support group that''s on display for everyone to see.
As part of the "Arts as Healing" program, Siteman offers "Your Square Matters." While patients wait for their chemotherapy appointment, art supplies contributed by Artmart are given to the patients, who paint on 4" by 4" tiles donated by Bolton, owner of Ceramic Tile Services, Inc. in St. Louis. The artwork allows patients to express their feelings in a positive way. After the tiles dry they are mounted inside Siteman''s Infusion Center on the 7th floor of the Center for Advanced Medicine.
"Patients just stand in awe," says Vicki Friedman, director of MedPIC at Washington University School of Medicine, who oversees the "Square" program with her colleagues at MedPIC. "It means a lot to them."
Upon seeing over 300 of the tiles already mounted at Siteman, it was clear it meant a lot to Bolton as well. "I''ve got tears in my eyes just looking at this," she said. "It''s extremely emotional."
Ultimately 500 tiles will be mounted thanks to Bolton, who is now cancer free, and now only visits with her physician, David Mutch, MD, chief of gynecologic oncology at Siteman, for yearly checkups.
Among the tiles is Bolton''s own artwork dedicated to her "angel" who helped her through her battle, a support group member named Marilyn. "My husband Howard gave me emotional support and she gave me psychological support," she says. "I can''t say enough about the support of loved ones."
For more information about Your Square Matters or the Arts as Healing program, call 314-362-7844.