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Brush on Paint, Swirl in Some Glitter, And Suddenly Everything Looks Better
Children's Hospital Campaign
The Washington Post is raising money for the Children's National Medical Center. You may make a tax-deductible contribution online anytime between Nov. 17 and Jan. 9. TOOLBOX
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But being an art therapist is a far cry from helping out with finger painting at a nursery school.
"I once had a cancer patient, a 3-year-old. I walked in and said, 'Would you like to do some art with me?' She immediately threw up," Stemas said.
But tummy problems didn't stand in the child's way. Stemas remembers the little girl plunging ahead with her project, pausing occasionally to grab her vomit basin.
Stemas has had dozens of patients, including Michele, working on her tile project, which will comprise more than 200 ceramic squares that together will be a mosaic depicting seven different trees. The black outlines of each tree are already glazed into the tiles. The children decorate the squares with tempera paints and any variety of other media.
When all the tiles are decorated, Stemas plans to assemble them into what will be known as "Our Healing Forest."
The willow tree that Michele was working on was the last tree to be decorated. By the time she finished, the willow on her tile was outlined in blue and green. Next to it were a peace sign and a pink-and-blue rainbow.
Michele finished the job with a special message: "Shalom," the Hebrew word for peace.
How to Help
Healing involves more than medicine, and Children's Hospital understands that well. Hence the clowns who roam the halls urging even the sickest youngsters to laugh and art therapists such as Stemas who show them how to create something from their souls. Nothing that spells childhood is missed at Children's.
To help deliver that kind of full-range care to area children, even those whose family insurance falls short, please contribute to The Washington Post's annual campaign in support of Children's. Our goal is to raise $500,000 by Jan. 18. So far, your generous gifts have raised $136,339.31. Write a check or money order payable to Children's Hospital and send it to Washington Post Campaign: P.O. Box 17390, Baltimore, Md. 21297-1390.
To donate online using a credit card, visit http:/
To contribute by phone using Visa or MasterCard, call 202-334-5100 and follow the instructions. All gifts are tax deductible, as allowed by law.
Thank you!
Send questions or comments toreida@washpost.com.
