Spotlight: Liv and Gabriella
Liv and Gabriela are energetic, creative, and loving sisters. Liv is 7 years old, and Gabriela is 9. They also have a 1-year-old baby brother who recently started walking and loves getting into their toys! Now that he is older—and doing so well with his medical care—Liv and Gabriela love being able to play with him even more.
Learning About Cancer Through Art
When explaining an illness like cancer to kids, keeping things clear and simple works best. Sibling Support Specialists use books and art projects to help kids understand what is happening.
In the picture, Liv and Gabriela drew normal cells alongside cancer cells. As Liv explains:
“Cells make up our body. But sometimes cells become cancer cells. When they are a cancer cell, they grow fast and take up a lot of space. They cause problems for the body. You don’t want cancer cells in your body.”
Caring for Each Other
To help him get better, their brother had to spend time in the hospital. When their mom and brother were away, Liv and Gabriela missed them deeply. Even when we can’t fix a medical problem ourselves, we can always offer love and encouragement. Liv and Gabriela decided to make special artwork for them.
“I made art for my Mom and brother because I was missing both of them,” Liv says. “I tell them, ‘Never stop reaching for your dreams,’ because I knew Mom wanted to be home with all of us, and I knew he would get better.”
Making art and signs helps the person receiving them feel loved, and it helps the artist feel better by sharing how much they care.
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