As some of you know, my sister Jes and I visited my niece (and sister, and brother in law) in Children's Hospital last weekend. As always, it is soooo good to see Avery when she is awake and alert and on the road to receiving the ultimate gift. Not to mention how good it is to be able to take my sister out for just a little while to give her some much-needed respite from the daily stress of caring for (and worrying about) Cutes.
During the visit, we spent a good deal of time in Avery's room, and I had time to take in all of the wonderful cards, letters and works of art created by her classmates and friends. Her walls and windows are a celebration of hope and color and creativity, and well, in the middle of it all... one big, black sorta scary painting of a shark.
During this visit, I also happened to be reading this book, which is a fictional novel based on the very real shootings by two students at Columbine High School in the 90s. So I look at the shark painting, for probably the fifth time that day, and I say to my sister Jesse, (somewhat jokingly), "they'd better keep an eye on this kid when they get older," and my sister responds, with a smirk "um, that would be YOUR NIECE!"
So, as you can see from this painting, which I was allowed to take with me, and which I now have hanging in my office to intimidate my colleagues, Cutes is definitely expressing her frustrations about having spent the better part of 2009 in a hospital bed.
7 comments:
Aww...poor thing. I'm so glad she such awesome, understanding, and encouraging family to help through all of this and to foster her art! HUGS to all of you! =)
Sisser,
I laughed just as hard this time as I did when you said it to me in the Hospital.
I am so sorry that it seems she is taking after me when it comes to art....
xoxo Love, Jesse
Kerri, great story. I love this shark. Sometimes in life we have to be "sharks" and Avery expressed that so well. I think you putting the art in your office is wonderful too. Thanks for sharing that with us.
I bet she would like to send that shark after a few nurses and doctors - yes, I know that they are all wonderful there - but they are still poking and prodding her poor little body. What a little trooper. If I was in there most of 2009 I'd need a strait jacket!!!
XOX to all and, as always, hang in there and our prayers are with you all!
She's just letting everyone know she has plenty of fight in her....so watch out world, here comes Avery!
It's good to let the sharks out now and then. You guys are in my prayers.
Hey Kerri,
This IS a great story. Look at it this way, at least as a shark she's the predator and not the prey. She's as strong as she is surprising! You must be so proud! So good to meet you in person Saturday.
<3, Tabitha
Post a Comment